Hats off to GrowSmart Maine and the Brookings Report for painting an unbiased factual picture of what is happening and what needs to happen in Maine. Maine is top-heavy with layers of administration and Maine’s taxpayers are burdened with much higher taxes than other rural states.

TABOR and the Palesky tax cap are two recent attempts by the citizens of Maine initiate change. The report recommends that government should be streamlined, taxes should be cut and it follows the same reasoning as Steve Forbes’ recommendation of overhauling the federal tax code and implementing one that is fair and simple. Putting money back in the pockets of taxpayers is a necessity to broaden the tax base and stimulate growth by encouraging investment in assets and staff, motivating workers to work the extra hour and to invest personally without being penalized.

As a proud taxpaying American and lifelong resident of Maine, I would like to be able to sit down at the end of the year with a one-page form and simply compute the taxes I owe. We all know that Maine is a great place to live. With a couple of weeks before elections, candidates should carefully consider the recommendations made in this report, especially on taxes.

Joseph Kiley

Holden