“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size.” – Ronald Reagan

We know that world events are raising the price of crude oil seemingly on an hourly basis. This has a dramatic effect of causing gasoline, kerosene, propane and heating oil to have a drastic rise in price. This, in turn, has a direct impact on our bank accounts. What are you going to do when the state of Maine and your local government asks for an increase in taxes because gasoline has zoomed to $4 a gallon or more?

While driving around the Lakes Region we noticed that there is a notable increase in the amount of items for sale. Such items include trucks, boats, cars, 4-wheelers, campers, snowmobiles and even kitchen sinks. But what is even more remarkable and disturbing is the incredible amount of homes now on the market. We did not notice any signs marked “Sold” but did see many others marked “Price Reduced.” Are skyrocketing taxes and prices of goods forcing the boys to sell their toys? After the toys are gone, what’s next? Will it be your lifestyle, heat, medicine or maybe your home?

Mainers carry the highest tax burden and yet are near the bottom for personal income. Maine has been ranked with Louisiana as far as being an economic disaster area. Louisiana has two huge excuses that were named Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. What’s Maine’s excuse? Has Captain Baldacci and his crew of scalawags devastated this state? To us the reason Mainers are leaving this state is that they simply cannot afford to live here anymore.

Since we are continually making cutbacks in our spending, what are the municipalities, school districts and the state of Maine doing to their spending to lower our tax burden? In Windham, with its runaway budget, it’s about time to combine instead of expanding departments and services. For example, the REAL School, DARE Program and Department of Parks and Recreation all have programs that provide activities for children like swimming, camping, etc. Each department has its own vehicles and equipment.

Other proposed increases in staffing and equipment should be heavily scrutinized such as the proposal to split Code Enforcement and Planning into two departments. We must assume that means another increase in staff. The Windham Police Chief has discussed having another SUV, a Suburban no less, for the K-9 officer. SUVs are known gas guzzlers and there is much talk of how bad they are for the environment by enhancing global warming.

It is now necessary for us to reduce our personal spending because we are being slammed by high taxes and an ever-increasing cost of living. Isn’t it time that the town of Windham along with other communities begin to reduce their spending as well. It appears they are getting the gold mine and we are getting the shaft. We are tired of having the boom lowered on us.

Lane: I say it’s time for a hiring freeze in the town of Windham effective July 1, 2006. If government can do this at several levels, so can Windham. I am making my cutbacks in spending by not purchasing a new vehicle. I have also purchased my heating oil for this coming winter. I would like to know why town officials can throw out more money with a teaspoon than I can carry in with a wheelbarrow.

Tommy: First, we must privatize several services in Windham for a start. Privatization will create competition which will lead to lower costs and therefore less spending. It has been done successfully in many communities. We should also look into changing some departments from full time to part time.

Both: It’s all about choices. What choice will you make if you have to sell your home and it doesn’t sell quick enough? Do you just walk away? The best choice you can make is to vote and this fall you can help control spending by voting yes on Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights. We will vote for those who support Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights. For those politicians who use the old saying of what do we want to cut, the answer is simple. Them!