Question 1 and Question 1

When Bangor voters go to the polls on Nov. 2, they will be asked to decide on two important referendum questions. One, is Question 1 on the state ballot, the other is Question 1 on the Bangor ballot. We hope no one gets them confused, because there are many signs out and around urging folks to vote a certain way on the state question.

No. 1 on the state ballot asks you if you want the Palesky tax cap applied. There are so many important reasons for not wanting this and the false savings and the major losses of municipal services which go with it, they could fill another letter. Maine’s property taxing system is broken and needs fixing, but surely not this way.

No. 1 on the city ballot asks you if you want to keep your police department downtown where it belongs. Placing a new facility at the airport and at the edge of the circle simply makes no sense. It would deprive our police officers of speedy yet safer access to the heart of our city and all other areas, too. It would deprive our residents of the added security and peace of mind which a centrally located police presence brings, where heightened police-related activity exists.

We hope Bangor voters will vote a big yes on this question. If something isn’t broken, it doesn’t need fixing.

Ruth Shook

Bill Shook

Bangor