Dear Editor:

Our municipal spending is going up again, mainly due to ever increasing costs for insurance, facilities, energy and wages. Tax increases are inevitable unless we change how we operate.

Though many people say they are worried about higher taxes, the town overwhelmingly votes “yes” on budget increases every year. Town officials have told me that as long as the voters keep voting for budget increases they will continue to operate in the same way. I believe many people vote “yes” to more spending because they feel like they don’t have a choice. The annual ballot is long, complex, and does not give us any lower cost alternatives. You can vote Yes or No to keep what you have. You don’t get to vote for a Plan B that would cost less.

The Select Board is responsible for driving strategy for the town. Wiscasset has no strategy to address overall spending growth. Economic development may help in ten years but it will not close the gap. Before we vote again a year from now we need the Select Board to find alternative ways to deliver town services at lower costs for our five most expensive departments and the schools. 

As you get ready to vote this time, here are a few points to ponder…

• Wiscasset municipal spending is up 8%. Inflation is 3%.
• Parks and Rec expense has grown to over $1.2 million. Revenue covers only 56% of this. Taxpayers pay $550K.
• Last year we did not have a mil rate increase but property taxes went up.  This year we will have a mil rate increase.
• Wiscasset already has the highest mil rate in Lincoln County.

Do we want to become Wistax-it? Perhaps this year our votes should send a different message.

Tom Joyce

Wiscasset