I am disappointed, but not amazed, at the amount of opinion space the Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal have given those opposed to any change in the structure of the tax-exempt law. I am disappointed that the main point of columnists seems to be “Everything is fine the way it is.” They choose to defend the existing situation and paint the issue in black and white. They do not acknowledge that communities such as Waterville and Augusta have a serious problem.

This issue is not black and white. There are any number of potential solutions. As members of the community at large, nonprofits, as well as the newspaper, should acknowledge the unfairness of the current situation and focus upon possible solutions.

I have at least six potential remedies in my head, but I forgo those now. What we need to have is an all-inclusive community discussion. Let’s put the facts on the table, set down all the possible solutions and work from there.

If that cannot happen, I still will be here, bearing witness to the burden shouldered by individual communities that shoulder the cost for their entire regions.

Stephen R. Aucoin

Waterville