State legislators are hard at work in Augusta trying to lower the tax burden for Mainers. A few thoughts come to mind here.

I think the present school consolidation plan will ultimately cost many rural communities hundreds of thousands of dollars more than they pay now, and will give those districts less choice and control.

The proposed 911 consolidation plan in Androscoggin County isn’t any better for small communities. If people think their property taxes are high now, wait a bit and see the results of this fiasco.

Debit cards for child care will most certainly lead to abuse of the program. It will be a financial disaster for many quality day care providers and the children the program is supposed to help will suffer for it. Where is the oversight?

The $1 to $3 oil-change fee pertains only to fleet and service providers. What about the people who change their own oil? Why should they be exempt?

I don’t even want to think about the problems that will arise if the state takes over the county jail system.

I shudder to think what officials in Augusta will decide next in order to lower the tax burden. They apparently can’t see that there is no relief in shifting taxes from the state to the local level.

To them, I say, “Thanks, but no thanks. I can’t afford your efforts on my behalf.”

Brenda Theriault, Greene