I recently received notification of the tax assessed on my property. I am appalled by the increase of 66 percent that has been assessed on my property. I make 30,000 per year, received a 2 percent increase in wages and now have to pay 60 percent more in gas prices to get to work, 40 percent more to heat my house and now 66 percent more in taxes; not to mention a mortgage of $1,100 per month.

I voted against the Palesky referendum, but I am notifying her of my support and suggest stongly of a referendum limiting property tax based on a person’s wages, and will promote it as much as possible. This is an outrage and should not be tolerated by any resident of Raymond.

The state is wondering why businesses will not come to Maine and why people are leaving by the thousands; here is a good example. I think there should be a public meeting about this issue before people revolt against these unnecessary hikes.

William H. Blood

Raymond

Ed’s note: Homeowners in Raymond gasping at their new tax assessments like the above letter writer need to remember one thing: Just because your property value has risen doesn’t mean your property tax will rise proportionally. The town and schools haven’t doubled or tripled their budgets for the coming year so even though home values have spiralled upward, the town is still taxing residents at about the same rate as last year. The revaluation is an attempt to bring assessments up to market prices, required by state law. As most tax assessors will tell you, about a third of homeowners see tax increases (perhaps shoreland residents), a third see lower taxes and a third won’t see a difference at all. Here’s hoping you’re in the latter category.