If my understanding of the Palesky tax cap is correct, the amount of money any municipality would receive is 10 percent of the 1996-97 valuation plus the amount needed to service taxpayer approved debt.

With that in mind, people need to realize that the city of Lewiston would not be facing such financial disaster if the citizens of this fine city were given a chance to vote on all major expenditures regarding projects such as the Bates Mill, Gateway renovations, The Colisee, etc. Smaller communities do not have our problem because they have town meetings and vote on everything.

Our city charter states that any major investment over a set amount ($5,903,383 for this year) needs to be voted on. However, city administration has worked its way around that issue by simply phasing in most projects, dividing the costs among various departments or classifications or just estimating too low, thus eliminating total figures on any project from being evident until completion. Either way, they get to do what they want, when they want.

Unfortunately, these actions are coming back to haunt Lewiston taxpayers.

Instead of trying to defeat the Palesky tax cap, why not put as much energy into finding solutions to our problems and showing the people of Lewiston that the individuals they elected are capable of tightening their belts and assuring Lewiston a bright future.

Strong leadership is what Lewiston needs now, and hopefully, our city councilors will not disappoint us.

Jacqueline P. Smith, Lewiston

Copy the Story Link