Maine has the highest per capita taxes of any state. So, it is hard to understand why our roads and bridges are in such a sorry state. With the taxes we pay, we should have the best roads and bridges in the nation.
To make matters worse - and even more questionable - the legislature is borrowing $210 MILLION dollars for the purpose of repairing roads and bridges. Why? Where have all those excessive taxes gone? Why does Maine have to borrow money to pay for things we already supposedly paid for? In mail received from Senator Jon Courtney, "The repayment of these ($210 million) bonds will come from highway money which had previously been (mis)appropriated for non-highway purposes." Why, we should ask, was highway money used elsewhere? And why should we believe the same will not happen yet again, resulting in having to borrow even more money?
Realize that you and I won't just have to pay even HIGHER taxes to repay that $210 million. We will also have to pay higher taxes to pay the interest on that $210 million. At even 5%, the interest would be over $10 million in just the first year, and a whopping $140+ million over the 20 year term. That works out to a new debt placed on Maine families of $350 million. And that is only for roads and bridges - which we already supposedly paid for!
Unless you like being milked and bled to death, you just may want to consider firing every member of the Maine government come election time, regardless of party. This will send a very clear and strong message to those we do elect - do the job, do it right, or you, too, will be fired.
The only reason you are being taxed so heavily and getting so little in return is simply because Maine voters tend to re-elect incumbents, 95% of the time. They have a stranglehold on the state and its citizens.
It's time to break it. It's time to send a strong message. It is time to take back the power, and once again make it a government of, by and for the people.
If we choose not to make changes, then we have no right to complain when our taxes place our families in jeopardy. Don't blame it on Bush, Baldacci or anyone but ourselves. We are the ones who keep putting these clowns in office. And we are the ones who do not hold them accountable, or fire them, when they mess it up.
No wonder so many folks and businesses are moving across the border to New Hampshire.
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The state's general fund and highway budget both finished the fiscal year with modest surpluses but Gov. John Baldacci warned Monday that high energy prices and a sagging economy "could further erode revenues" in the coming year.
State officials announced a general fund surplus of $56 million and a highway fund surplus of $2.5 million for the year that ended June 30.
"The year-end surplus is the result of a disciplined budget approach," Baldacci said. "Maine faced a grim economic picture earlier this year that required the state to make many difficult decisions. That hard work has allowed us to finish the year in a good position."
Baldacci and state lawmakers closed a projected $190 million budget gap earlier in the year. But Baldacci warned that there will likely be additional challenges in the second year of the $6.3 billion budget.
"Unfortunately, high energy prices and a still-struggling national economy could further erode revenues in the next fiscal year," Baldacci said.
After accounting adjustments, the state will deposit $10 million into the so-called rainy day fund, which will total $128.9 million. The state has total reserves of about $169.5 million between the rainy day fund and the separate working capital fund, said Baldacci.
Also, another $43.7 million will be used to bolster payments to hospitals, and $935,000 will be available for the coming fiscal year.
"We are building our reserves, which strengthen our overall financial standing, and we are honoring our commitments," Baldacci said.
Don't we have a rainy day now?
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