Excise tax shouldn’t be based on MSRP

When we buy a new or used vehicle, we pay the sales tax on the “bill of sale” amount. When we go to the local town or city to register the vehicle, the law requires that we pay the “excise tax” on the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) or original window sticker price. In last Sunday’s paper, new vehicles were advertised for anywhere between $1,000 to $8,000 below the MSRP price. That’s an extra $192 on $8,000 to register that vehicle. Yet, we don’t pay the sales tax on the extra $8,000.

Every time we re-register the vehicle annually, even though the excise tax rate drops, the rate is still always based on the original MSRP, or sticker price. I just bought a 21-year-old vehicle for $2,200. I paid the sales tax on $2,200 but had to pay the excise tax on the MSRP 21 years ago, which was more than $20,000. I think that you will all agree that isn’t right.

This can only be corrected by the Legislature. There is a bill in the current session of the Legislature, L.D. 94, to correct this inequity. In past attempts to correct this problem, the Maine Municipal Association, a very powerful lobby for the towns and cities, has lobbied successfully to defeat those bills. They claim that the towns will lose tax revenue and will have to increase taxes. Of course, the towns will lose revenue because they have been used to collecting a tax on money that us citizens never spent. Do they have to increase taxes? Not if they reduce spending.

I submit that neither one of those reasons is justification for requiring us citizens to pay an excise tax on money that we never spent. If you agree, it’s critical that you contact both your local state representative and senator and ask that they support L.D. 94.

David Kent

Standish

Wrestling coaches lauded

I am writing to express public appreciation to the Westbrook High School wrestling coaches: John Nicholas, a resident of Windham and a teacher in Scarborough, Nick Marchant of Portland, and Peter Grant of Westbrook.

These men gave a minimum of 25 hours per week during the season. Practices began before Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas “break” included almost daily practice and multiple tournaments. February “vacation” began with the Class A State Tournament on the first Saturday, included practices throughout the week, and ended with the New England Qualifier on the final Saturday. Every tournament begins with a 5 a.m. bus departure and ends well after supper.

This year two wrestlers – Max Storm of Westbrook and Abraham Eaton of Gorham?qualified for the 2015 New England Wrestling Championship. Coach Nicholas and Coach Marchant accompanied them to North Andover, Mass., for the tournament.

As many coaches hope to do, these men take boys and turn them into men. These young men then go throughout the state of Maine and into New England representing Westbrook and Gorham extremely well.

Last season the primary fundraiser for the Westbrook Wrestling Boosters, the Westbrook Invitational Tournament, was relocated to accommodate a funeral at WHS. This season the tournament was canceled due to weather – not once – but twice! This has left funding completely depleted. Will you express your thanks to these men by making a contribution? If you are unable to contribute, please send them a note of thanks.

Notes or checks made out to Westbrook Wrestling Boosters may be sent to Westbrook High School, 125 Stroudwater St., Westbrook, ME 04092 or Gorham High School, 41 Morrill Ave., Gorham, ME 04038.

Jennifer J. Eaton

Gorham