The statewide support for the Taxpayer Bill of Rights was 46 percent of the vote. This was a remarkable showing for a citizen’s referendum that wanted less government spending. I am proud of towns in Androscoggin County. More than 50 percent of the following town’s voters favored TABOR on Nov 7.: Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland, Turner, Lisbon, Livermore, Greene, and Auburn. Lewiston voters were not in favor, but the voting was very close, 5,721 yes, 6,010 no.

The governor and the legislature need to work together to change Maine’s tax structure. The Brookings Institute report has great recommendations. Gov. John Baldacci has created an economic council to review the report’s innovation and cluster development ideas. Of course, the governor left out two other recommendations from the report: restructuring the state tax system and cuts in government spending of $100 million a year.

The governor still does not get it. Baldacci said, “The message is loud and clear, the people want tax reform and property tax relief.” The governor is proposing to cap valuations for year-round Maine residents.

Again, this shows the governor just does not get it. Spending is the problem, not the property values. The property values can be any number we want to give them. The spending of each town – which then becomes the tax mill rate – is the real problem. Again the leadership does not get it.

Happy New Year! Get your tax checks ready. They will be higher again next year.

Roger Knowlton, Poland