Gov. Paul LePage is still pushing to eliminate the state income tax.

How did the Legislature fund the previous $100 million income tax cut? In his first budget, LePage pushed for cuts in revenue sharing. He said it was time the towns and cities trim their budgets along with the state.

This is surprising because, as mayor of Waterville, before being elected governor, LePage should have known most towns and cities already had cut their budgets to the bare bones. In fact, while he was mayor of Waterville, he had one of his well-known temper tantrums at a City Council meeting against a proposed state cut to revenue sharing.

LePage tried to cut revenue sharing again during the next budget session. However, thanks to a few level-headed members of his own party, legislators did not agree.

To prove my point, during the four years prior to LePage’s election, our Augusta property taxes went up 1.2 percent; during his first four years in office, they went up 14.9 percent. Further reduction in revenue sharing will only guarantee property tax increases by towns and cities. Many elderly residents living on fixed income are trying to keep their homes while already living on the edge of poverty. Why would any elected official want to push them over the edge to make their governor happy?

The state income tax is the only way for residents to pay according to ability. Eliminating this income tax will not benefit the middle income, the elderly living on fixed income, the low income and the poor. These folks will face higher property taxes and hundreds of new taxes on goods and services. Residents with meager income would be required to pay more taxes than they could afford.

David Crockett

Augusta

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