The stresses between economic freedom and an entitlement society are reaching a boiling point. The recent failed web registration for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has only begun to spread the eminent financial plague upon working Americans. Unfortunately, our state and federal governments spend their time fighting about entitlement delivery rather than creating an environment to provide jobs.

Never before have municipalities been placed in a position where they alone must carry the “economic freedom” banner for their residents. It is incumbent on each Maine municipality to assess their service delivery mechanisms and implement efficiencies providing a tax environment to attract businesses and jobs for the citizens. Each municipal government must address their processes to reduce spending in an insightful manner.

During 2013, Rumford voters responded correctly to the need to reduce spending. Without the spending reductions, property owners would have experienced a significant tax increase. Instead, even with a municipal valuation decrease adjustment of $49 million and the resulting $1.2 million loss of paper mill tax revenue, the property taxes stayed flat at a rate 23 percent higher than in 2008.

Now, the signals for an additional paper mill business downturn must awake the municipal leadership to have courage and conviction. A consultant has been hired to advise Rumford and Mexico about service delivery changes, but those changes have been well known for more than eight years … without action.

The 2014-15 budget season is approaching. A new town manager will be on board to act on needed changes.

Len Greaney, Rumford Center