L.D. 345, a bill that would change the amount of excise tax on new vehicles, is the best idea for everyone. The bill would change the excise tax to be calculated on the actual price paid by the buyer instead of the list price, as it is now. The change would put more money into the economy and cut back the spending by town and city government.

By my figures, a car that has a sticker price of $25,000, compared to an actual price of $20,000, costs the consumer almost $400 more in excise tax over six years.

That money could help pay insurance and go back into the economy instead of lining the pockets of overpaid city or town officials.

My town collected taxes of about $715,000 on cars and $5,000 on boats for a total of almost $720,000. The road account had a budget of $300,000, which means there was well over $400,000 left over to do with as town officials pleased. This needs some serious input from people not in politics.

Anyone against the proposal must love paying taxes or has no common sense. The money for roads is supposed to come from the 32 cents per gallon gasoline tax we all pay. But people with new cars have to pay more while the people with used cars ride free on our highways.

Lawrence C. Dewar, Rumford

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