“We actually didn’t overspend our budget. The allocation simply fell short of our expenditure.” -Keith Davis

Lane/Tommy: Well, once again it’s budget time in Windham and Augusta. What hidden surprises will astonish us in the future as far as our local budget goes? What about all the hype of tax relief from Augusta? We are willing to bet we will see a tax increase although promises of tax reform will be made. Remember LD 1 with its assurances of property tax relief for all? Relief that we paid for ourselves?

Lane: After reviewing some of the proposed legislation for tax relief in Augusta, I can only state the status quo will continue. One proposal is to broaden the sales tax to pay for property tax relief. Do you really believe our total tax burden will decrease because if you do, I have some ocean-front property in Arizona I will be glad to sell.

If the state budget continues to increase, how can we receive tax relief? My suggestion is to immediately audit all state agencies and then look for a reduction in force that will bring real tax relief for us. Our government work force is increasing at a rate that will surely put all of us in the poor house.

Tommy: Will the Maine governor and legislature ever learn to live within our means? I feel that Mainers are riding on a costly merry-go-round that we cannot get off. I believe that the educational system has a total stranglehold on the taxpayers of Maine, not to mention the governor and legislators. It is evident that the opportunity for the governor’s plan to reduce the school districts to 26 is a prime example of educators refusing to give up control of their power over budgets.

Lane/Tommy: We know that Windham’s recent revaluation of property almost doubled the total value of Windham as far as the state of Maine is concerned. We wonder if this will have a serious impact on reducing the amount of state aid to Windham, especially for education. Please remember that Windham is now at 100 percent evaluation, so an increase in the tax rate will hit everyone hard in the wallet.

The $64,000 question is what other surprises will slap us in the face like the $400,000 purchase of the land adjacent to the Smith Cemetery that was supposedly in the budget but not one voter knew about. It’s time to hold the town manager and councilors’ feet to the fire on how our town charter works instead of sneaking something into the budget that voters cannot see.

Tommy: It’s about time that the Windham budget is decided on what we need, not what our local government decides it wants. It is obvious that there are things they could do without in the $42 million budget.

Lane: Showers and wall lockers at Public Works are a prime example of government whining. I have to ask: do they want some cheese with that whine? I have been in many town garages in my lifetime and I do not recall seeing one with showers for their workers. Why are government workers so special? And what’s this about new furniture for the tax assessor’s office? His job is assessing, not asking for more money to spend.

Lane/Tommy: We hope that during this year’s budget process the town council and school board will have the fortitude to be straightforward and will not wait to the last minute as they have in the past only to declare it’s too late to make any changes to the budget. Our suggestion for Windham’s budget is to throw $42 million into a room and let all departments fight over it. Then they have to deal with what they receive, not what they desire.

Lane and Tommy have planted their money trees. Unfortunately, Maine has neither good climate nor proper manure from Augusta so they are only harvesting pennies. And the tax man wants those.