Lewiston City Administrator Jim Bennett’s proposed committee to study the effect of the tax cap initiative, if passed, and to find solutions on how the city can operate if the referendum passes is, in my opinion, an exercise in futility.
If the tax cap passes, business as usual will have to change from the state level on down. Not just in Lewiston. Maine residents and businesses are over taxed, period. What is needed is a consolidation of state, county and local services, including school districts. Changes are also needed with respect to how nonprofit entities are treated.
In Lewiston, about 70 percent of the property owners are currently paying 100 percent of the taxes. Governments (state and municipal) recognize that our taxes are prohibitive by granting TIFs and creating Pine Tree zones, etc. to attract new business. What government is saying is: We know taxes are too high, so if you open shop in our community or in this county, we’ll give you years and years of tax breaks. Once again, 70 percent of the people keep paying 100 percent of the taxes.
The Legislature has had opportunities to fix these problems in the past, but has repeatedly failed to act. If the Palesky cap passes, it will be because the majority of Maine’s residents have decided that enough is enough, and have demanded action, doom and gloom predictions by various individuals aside.
Gary Savard, Lewiston
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