The Maine Legislature has had ample opportunity to give property taxpayers some relief but refuses to do so. Presently, we have a Democratic-controlled House, Senate and governor and even with this majority they refused to give us any tax relief. We have since gotten several promises for tax relief and some competing plans to the Palesky plan but we all know what a politician’s promise is worth.

The Palesky plan is certain to cause some upheaval within state, county and local government but unlike the television ads, you will not see any fire stations, schools or police stations shut down because of it. What we will more likely see are government officials getting together and making sound decisions on spending priorities. These decisions would be based more on need and affordability than on what taxes can be raised to pay for some bureaucrats proposed budget that they want.

Almost everyone supporting defeat of the cap is either government a official who collects and spends property tax dollars or people who receive paychecks derived from property tax dollars.

Merle Cousins

Southwest Harbor