I want to thank Mayor Bruce Chuluda and Councilors John O’Hara and Gary Groves for their integrity and respect and for looking out for their constituents, the Westbrook property owners.

Shame on all the other city councilors for reneging on their promise made last September that all additional state education money received as a result of a statewide referendum would be used for property tax relief. Rather than demand the School Department live within its budget (like all Westbrook property owners have to do) these elected civic leaders are apparently color blind and think it’s okay to pay someone else’s debt by using other people’s money without lawful permission.

As a Westbrook property owner, if I can’t afford it, I have to go without or lose my home. I don’t steal from my neighbors. If the School Department can’t afford its programs, services and benefits, they simply have to go without or consider other creative funding sources: grants, book sales, bake sales, user fees, pay cuts, etc…

Whatever amount property owners are now being robbed of should be considered a personal loan, and they should be repaid by the city of Westbrook in a specified time, at 19 percent interest. Or, property owners who consequently receive less than their share of property tax relief due to school budget woes should receive tax-contribution acknowledgements for income tax deductions.

These are little things that will help determine who I vote for next time around.

Louis Philippe

Westbrook