Columbus Day, 5:05 am

 

As a member of Citizens to Reduce Property Taxes Statewide, I have long worked on and advocated for real solutions to Maine’s fiscal real predicaments.  As Chair of Bowdoinham’s selectboard, I also presided over an important turning point in our town’s tax rates and overall fund balance. 

 

Here are seven solutions I propose to improve Maine’s economic health.  None of these on their own are silver bullets.  As a complete package, these measures will move us forward.

 

1. Expand the Circuit Breaker program further to protect Maine residents from losing their homes and farms.
2. Raise the income threshold for the maximum income tax bracket.  At present, upper-middle income familes are being taxed at an unfair rate.
3. Expand the sales tax base.  As the Brookings Institution recommended recently, for instance, Maine’s visitors can and should pay for meals and lodging at a rate similar to New Hampshire’s.  A broad base is a fairer one.
4. Incentivize energy conservation and alternative energy.  Reducing our dependence on oil will cut costs and make Maine more competitive.
5. Bond out a major investment in public wireless access, roads and bridges, stormwater systems, conservation improvements, alternative energy and transportation.  Maine has an excellent credit rating, can take advantage of federal matching funds, and will reap major long-term benefits.
6. Tax business profits -- not capital investments.  Our present system is unfair, and discourages innovation in some areas.
7. Rein in health care costs by making Dirigo Choice work for a broader range of businesses and individuals.  Maine needs to administer the program publicly, add a high-deductible product, and expand the Dirigo risk pool.

 

Fiscal responsibility means long-term planning.  It is not enough to say “we need to fix our roads, improve our schools, and cut our taxes.”  It is not enough to say “we need to make hard choices.”  To an experienced reformer and cost-cutter, making the right choices is easy. 

 

As legislator, I will continue to work hard for real fiscal responsibility, not sound-bite solutions.  It takes far more effort to do the job right the first time -- and it’s worth it.

 

Yours for tomorrow,

 

Seth