On Nov. 3, I will be voting “yes” on Question 4 to enact the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

There are many reasons why Maine taxpayers need TABOR now more than ever. Many recent reports have brought to light just how irresponsible the state and local governments are with taxpayers’ money. The public needs to rein in this behavior in Augusta and tell the politicians: It is time for the voters to decide.

According to a recent report, in the past decade Maine’s economy has been in a crisis. Jobs in the private sector have been disappearing and Augusta has responded by taking more money from families and adding four times as many government jobs; more bureaucrats funded by tax dollars.

Another shocking fact is that state spending has gone up by nearly half in the same period — doubling the rate of inflation. The state is spending more than taxpayers can afford. That needs to stop.

TABOR will allow the taxpayers to make the decision on increased spending. At a time when most Maine families are struggling to get by, the last thing families need to deal with is higher taxes to fund the Maine government’s spending addiction.

It is time to tell elected officials that it is the taxpayers’ turn to decide.

I encourage others to join me in voting “yes” on Question 4 on Nov. 3.

Allen Butler, Gray