I hope the full Portland City Council takes heed of Councilor Nicholas Mavodones’ advice and understands that the proposed school budget far exceeds what is affordable.

Mayor Ethan Strimling is wrong when he thinks the small fix of property tax relief for low-income seniors lifts the burden of a regressive property tax. Property taxes in Portland are not affordable for many of us, and rearranging the bill among us is not a solution to the property tax burden.

I have retired this year and my income will be reduced significantly, yet my property taxes will go up. Every time the governor and others want to redirect expenses to local government, what they are really doing is encouraging the reduction of those services, because even those among us who support fully fundng education, for example, cannot afford the high cost of this regressive tax.

Donna Williams

Portland