In June of this year, the Concerned Citizens of Biddeford sent dozens of requests to City Hall inquiring how tax dollars were being spent in the downtown area as well as the money going to various nonprofits. We were surprised by the arrogance of our elected officials when we were denied each and every request.

Two weeks ago, we challenged one of the nonprofits we are investigating, Heart of Biddeford, to open their books and give us a detailed audit of all monies received from each and every source as well as an accounting of how these monies were distributed.

If they were a legitimate nonprofit, they would have at least offered their most recent 990s (tax reporting forms to the IRS). Instead, they completely ignored our request we made via the local newspapers.

We ask ourselves, what are they hiding, and why will HOB not share how they are spending our tax dollars? Other communities attract businesses into their towns to help with property tax revenue; here in Biddeford, we are watching our tax revenues be distributed to a group of nonprofits than not only take our dollars, they in turn are exempt from those same taxes that continue to go up and burden the citizens of this town so a selected group can continue to receive “free” money.

We have seen this in the past, on the federal, state and municipal levels where friends of administrations are rewarded for their support, and time after time, the only winners are those on the receiving end.

Last week, we reported where the bulk of real estate tax revenues are coming from in Biddeford, and please note not one downtown business was named, yet the main focus of this administration in on Main Street. For some reason, the mayor and City Council look down their noses at the taxpayers and are dedicated to their dreams of how this town should look like.

It’s unfortunate they will not answer our inquiries; therefore, we were forced to file multiple 4506-As with the IRS requesting the 990s from certain nonprofits, including HOB and several others. These documents might reinforce some of our current suspicions.

At Concerned Citizens of Biddeford, we are simply trying to get the administration to be more transparent and honest with the taxpayers here in Biddeford. Some of us in this organization have stayed away from local politics for years and now realize it is time to get involved.

If anyone has anything they would like to share with us, please go to our Facebook page, “Concerned Citizens of Biddeford,” to share your concerns.

Craig Cantara
Howard Hanson
Concerned Citizens of
Biddeford