In April 1975, I was one of four persons from Maine to attend the Interreligious Coalition on Housing Conference in Washington, D.C. Midway through the conference, we broke into regional groups, ours being the New England one.

The most pressing needs among the New England attendees were the high property taxes and the impact on the lives of the senior citizens. We all had stories to tell of seniors going without necessities such as food, heat and medications in order to pay their property taxes. We met with legislators to express our concerns.

It is now 29 years later and little has been done to alleviate the situation.

Some say the tax-cap referendum is the wrong message. What is the right message? Defeat the proposal and wait another 29 years for relief? We need to send a strong message to our fiscally irresponsible state and municipal leaders, and the passage of this referendum is the answer.

The majority of towns and cities across America have property tax rates of less than 1 percent of valuation. Yet they have nice schools and beautiful parks and they pay their teachers and others better than we do here in the Pine Tree State.

In a recent article in the Sun Journal, Lewiston’s city manager was bemoaning a loss of services should this measure pass. Then, in the next section of the paper, the city councilors have given $1.1 million for the sports arena and parking facilities.

Go figure.

Richard Jensen, Minot

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