With the Lewiston city budget still under consideration, I thought I’d throw in my two cents’ worth.

Schools and taxes are still the big concerns (nothing new), and every time schools are recommended for cuts, educators and others cry foul, as it would hurt the children and eliminate jobs. But when more than half the school budget goes toward salaries and benefits, those same people don’t seem to think about the children.

This sounds as though I’m against education, but that isn’t the case. I hate to see anyone lose his or her job, no matter where. My home, last year, received an increase in taxes of more than $700, pushing the tax bill above $3,000, plus a “rain” tax. With the steady price increases in everything I buy, surviving is getting to be a real problem.

I would recommend freezing wages all around, and stop foolish spending until this city, state and country face reality. I am not a professional athlete; I have to manage with much less, compared to a few city officials, especially after retirement, and I can’t afford all these increases. Freezing wages is a start, and better than losing a job.

If this city and country keeps operating at the present level, we will all join hands at City Hall with our new neighbors at the welfare office, because it’s needed by people who worked and contributed but no longer can afford all the exorbitant prices coming from all sides.

Enough is enough.

Bert Godin, Lewiston