Both presidential candidates tout change. Change may be overdue at the federal level, but people may want to consider change in Maine as well.

Consider this: In 1998, Maine’s general fund – the budget that covers Medicare, MaineCare, education, personal services, etc., – totaled about $1.9 billion for a population of 1.25 million. In 2008, these same numbers are $3.08 billion and 1.32 million, respectively. That equates to an increase of more than 62 percent for the general fund, and a 6.5 percent population growth rate. The inflation rate during this same period was 34 percent.

Why is the state spending almost double the inflation rate? Following the trend, the general fund in 2018 can be expected to be around $5 billion, or just more than 2.5 times the 1998 budget.

State officials are spending money they don’t have.

When casting a vote this November, people should consider sending fiscally responsible people to Augusta.

Daniel Butler, Auburn