There are seven items to vote for, or against, on the state ballot for the Nov. 3 election, five of which are citizen initiatives.

I don’t know whether that’s a record, but I thank God that we, the people, have the right to do just that. But you best believe those who fell over the left side of the cliff believe we shouldn’t.

I will not have the space to discuss all so I will stick to those that affect our wallets.

Question 2 is a citizen initiative that states: Do you want to cut the rate of municipal excise tax by an average of 55 percent on motor vehicles less than six years old and exempt hybrid and other alternative-energy and highly fuel-efficient vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax?

I listened to our Windham town manager, Tony Plante, ramble on at a council workshop how town services would disintegrate if this ballot question passes. How do towns down south provide more services with less money than Windham receives from excise and property taxes? Please take a good look at the salaries and benefits that municipal workers receive. Our high excise taxes force me to only purchase used vehicles and I guess I am not alone because the majority of Maine vehicles are over 10 years old. I vote yes.

Question 3 is a citizen initiative that states: Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect? Without a doubt this question was formed and supported by the deadbeats in our state education system who didn’t want the so-called system to wreck their way to fortune.

I vote No on this one because spending on education would once again skyrocket while test scores linger if this question passes.

Question 4, Citizen Initiative: Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes?

I must state some cold, hard facts that show why this question must pass. In the past 10 years, government spending in Maine has increased 46 percent and property taxes have gone up 58 percent. The problem here is while spending increased huge amounts, inflation only increased about 25 percent. In order to slow government spending, I vote yes.

Question 6 is a state bond: Do you favor a $72,250,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities, including port and harbor structures, as well as funds for the LifeFlight Foundation that will make the state eligible for over $148,000,000 in federal and other matching funds?

OK, didn’t Maine just receive a stimulus package from the federal government for some of this stuff? Bonds are not part of the state budget so it makes me curious as to where our fuel taxes disappear to. My guess is a bloated and over-compensated staff in our state highway department. In order to keep from increasing the heavy tax burden our children and grandchildren are already facing, I vote no.

Lane Hiltunen, of Windham, recommends everyone vote early and vote often, as they do in Chicago, Obama’s hometown.