Regarding Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed biennial budget, I am concerned that after the teachers and state workers pay 2 percent more into the Maine State Retirement System, the state will contribute 2 percent less. It seems to me with this pension fund “crisis” that we have, that 2 percent in and 2 percent out equals zero.

Is this any way to solve the pension fund situation? It makes no sense to me. How does this lower the unfunded actuarial liability?

In past years, the state borrowed millions of dollars from the retirement system, and voters promised in a constitutional amendment to repay it. Now, the state advises us that it is unable, or does not want, to pay. I find it hard to believe that the state owes us millions of dollars, yet it wants us to pay what it owes. Do you understand what you have just read? I don’t.

The increased monies paid into the retirement system by teachers and state workers isn’t going to preserve benefits or lower the unfunded balance; the state’s lower payments will be used to lower taxes on the highest earners in the state.

The plan to eliminate the Benefits Trust Health Insurance for active and retired teachers, coupled with the tax increase on teachers and state workers, is difficult to accept.

Taking all of the above into consideration, I ask: 1. Why would anyone want to enter the teaching profession? 2. Why would anyone want to remain in the teaching profession?

Carl Beckett, Mechanic Falls