One of the qualities citizens want from leaders is straightforwardness. In these difficult times for our country, homeowners have had it with trickery, game-playing, manipulations and half-truths. As I look at Auburn’s dilemma with this year’s budget, I’m afraid I see the same worn-out tactics.

Every time Ms. Finnigan, our city manager, speaks of the proposed budget, she uses a mill rate based on last year’s property valuation. Our tax bill will be based on the new valuation. Surely, by now, she has an idea as to what some or most of the present figures are, numbers that would be more valid than last year’s.

I would hate to think that the reason she is not forthcoming with the estimate of this year’s mill rate, which has been asked of her by two council members, is that she is hoping that the council will not reach a budget agreement, which would mean that we would have to revert to her original proposed budget. That would be disingenuousness.

We have a right to know what our tax burden will be and it is her responsibility to give us this information. Sept. 15 is only a few months away and we must be able to adjust our budgets in order to pay what we fear will be a large change in our already-high property tax burden.

What is she hiding? Or, what does she fear?

Marie Herrick, Auburn