Maine citizens have been lobbying for reduced taxation for the past few years.

The Maine Municipal Association referendum last year promised to deal with citizens’ concern for high taxes but had increased spending for education hooked to it.

Maine voters passed this flawed referendum item, and the Maine Legislature then crafted a flawed L.D. 1 to follow the voters’ concerns.

But, as all Maine taxpayers know, local property taxation must be treated at the local government level. This means that elected officials of town and city governments and school committees must reduce their spending in order to reduce property taxes. This also means that citizens must act at the local level to reduce spending and taxes.

Have Maine’s locally elected officials reduced spending and lowered property taxes? Or have those elected officials continued their spending to maintain or increase local property taxes?

Elected Rumford selectmen are asking questions about spending, seeking a restraint that has not existed in the past decade. Citizens must support these selectmen if they want lower property taxes. They must also ask the SAD 43 school committee to restrain spending.

Rumford citizens took the first step to lower property taxes when they voted by secret ballot to maintain the state’s tax cap. However, some Rumford selectmen and the town manager continue to oppose the citizens’ vote for restrained spending.

Lower property taxes in Maine begins with restrained spending in the local towns and cities. Citizens must act locally to cut their property taxes.

Tom Fallon, Rumford