“Taxed Already Beyond Obtainable Resources.” After reading an article in a recent Sunday paper, I can only hope the voters aren’t fooled by the usual smoke and mirrors from the opposition. I loved the part about cutting school and public safety budgets. That always captures the unwary.
Let me share my thoughts and observations from when I worked for a municipality. Most of their “tree trimming” needs to be done at the top. When the last tax cap was on the ballot, the scare tactics from the union were, “We could lose our jobs.” Well, guess what. Most of us voted for it anyway because we were the workers, the ones who bore the burden of tax, tax, tax.
Then to see money spent at the end of the fiscal year just to insure they would get the same next year. Don’t be fooled, taxpayers. This goes on in most city and town departments. If a department does return money it usually goes into general funds, only to be spent later, not to lower taxes but to keep ’em coming. I also observed the good-old-boy system with vendors and suppliers when better deals were overlooked. Don’t forget that most of the people spending our money don’t have more than a high school diploma, but through time and seniority get into these positions.
Look at it this way: Your friend owns a convenience store. You need milk. Would you buy four single quarts from him, or go next door to the supermarket and buy a gallon? But what if it wasn’t your money you were spending?
The governor tried to create districting throughout the state to lower taxes, and I think TABOR would force municipalities to team up. Think of the buying power of 50 companies versus that of one. Municipalities already have bid programs for buying fuel, tires, vehicles, etc. Why not use it for everything annually rather than day-to-day purchasing.
If the same money was spent on teaching department heads, etc., on how to pool resources and conserve, than was spend of coffee cups for one month, the results could be remarkable. What’s needed is more accountability or purchasing guidelines at all levels. If TABOR prompted forming a committee to evaluate purchases and educate the people with purchasing power, it would take the burden off city/town councils to make those decisions. With all due respect, city/town councils can only make those decisions based on the information given to them. And, if necessary, TABOR leaves the final decision up to us, the voters, taxpayers, residents and workers of Maine.
Chris Martin
Windham
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