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Tax Fiasco
I have attended the last half dozen or so council meetings to try to find out why my taxes rose $400+ this year. I have listened to a lot of double speak about incorrect future Tif calculations and excessive overlays along with often contradictory statements about whether the taxes were committed or not. None of these explanations tell the whole story.
I think I finally understand what happened. Some of our Councilors weren't fiscally responsible...they spent money we didn't have, and in order to hide the excessive spending and make the numbers work , used the valuation adjustment and mill rate decrease to hide the true tax increase. The fact is we have been living beyond our means.
I think some Councilors are still unaware of the overspending. .I have heard taxpayer after taxpayer take the podium to give their story and tell councilors to cut taxes (lower spending). Councilors will nod in agreement then go on and vote as usual, spending to update "backup" fire engines or to fill a "Full Time" Economic directors position without pondering the sense in waiting until the financial dust settles. Could this be why only a handful of our Towns people go to the meetings? Has anyone even done a Cost-Benefit Analysis on filling the Economic Directors position?
We all have been warned about the shortfalls coming down the pike next year. I think it would be prudent to put a freeze on all discretionary spending TODAY and start looking at services we need to cut to balance next years budget... I DON'T WANT ANOTHER 400 DOLLAR SURPRISE NEXT YEAR....
F.E. Stacey
Lisbon falls
I have attended the last half dozen or so council meetings to try to find out why my taxes rose $400+ this year. I have listened to a lot of double speak about incorrect future Tif calculations and excessive overlays along with often contradictory statements about whether the taxes were committed or not. None of these explanations tell the whole story.
I think I finally understand what happened. Some of our Councilors weren't fiscally responsible...they spent money we didn't have, and in order to hide the excessive spending and make the numbers work , used the valuation adjustment and mill rate decrease to hide the true tax increase. The fact is we have been living beyond our means.
I think some Councilors are still unaware of the overspending. .I have heard taxpayer after taxpayer take the podium to give their story and tell councilors to cut taxes (lower spending). Councilors will nod in agreement then go on and vote as usual, spending to update "backup" fire engines or to fill a "Full Time" Economic directors position without pondering the sense in waiting until the financial dust settles. Could this be why only a handful of our Towns people go to the meetings? Has anyone even done a Cost-Benefit Analysis on filling the Economic Directors position?
We all have been warned about the shortfalls coming down the pike next year. I think it would be prudent to put a freeze on all discretionary spending TODAY and start looking at services we need to cut to balance next years budget... I DON'T WANT ANOTHER 400 DOLLAR SURPRISE NEXT YEAR....
F.E. Stacey
Lisbon falls
