As a Lewiston homeowner, it is comforting to have top-notch municipal services available: police and fire public safety services; street sweeping, plowing and sanding; street repairs; bus service, and 911 services, to name but a few. I am also looking forward to my young son eventually utilizing our school system and recreational opportunities.

Unfortunately, if the Palesky tax cap passes in November, my family’s future will be negatively impacted. Supporters say that will never happen. Well, I understand basic math and certainly realize that if we lose a substantial part of our municipal budget, services and opportunities as we know them will be drastically reduced.

Common sense also tells us that there will be no pot of money at the state level to bail out Lewiston’s or other cities’ losses, and to receive any version of needed services, we no doubt will be asked to pay fees for every service that we have become accustomed to – services that we greatly need.

With reductions in public services, it’s also pretty safe to say that many of our businesses will be unable to sustain their operations. In addition, why would any new businesses want to locate here if services are poor – businesses that would otherwise add to the tax base?

We need tax relief, but we shouldn’t have to lose services to get it. Palesky isn’t the answer.

Raymond E. Whittier, Lewiston

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