Maine's fiscal follies on parade
Dear Independent,
I want to share with you some of the frustrations and problems I'm battling in Augusta that really bother me and make state government look desperate and out of touch.
The first example is the state of Maine sending a Massachusetts resident a tax bill on his $500,000 private plane.
This gentleman is a Massachusetts resident who bought his plane there. He visits Maine occasionally to use his plane in support of "Angel Flight" missions. This is a volunteer, nonprofit organization providing free flights to residents of rural Maine whose medical problems require travel to hospitals in the Boston area. Apparently, he accumulated 21 days in Maine, exceeding the 20-day limit for tax-free visits, thereby qualifying for the "honor" of paying Maine state sales tax on his aircraft. He received a bill for $26,000 from Maine Revenue Services.
Another private pilot who flew into Maine was hit with a "use tax" bill for $175,000. He is so angry that he is moving his business from Maine to New Hampshire.
Of course, word of Maine's bizarre tax schemes immediately spread to the private pilot world: "Do not spend too much time in Maine because you may have a tax problem."
These are the folks we want to visit Maine. They fly in, spend their money and fly away. Do we really want a tax policy that alienates the 130,000 visitors who arrive in Maine annually on private planes?
Another fiasco involves the state treasurer investing $20 million of our tax dollars in what turned out to be a fund investing in sub-prime loans. In less than a month this, "investment grade" investment was reduced to junk bond status. The treasurer says we may recover the money, but I believe we will be lucky to receive 25 cents on the dollar. His excuse is that he relied on the advice of a highly respected brokerage company.
We may eventually fix the policy of taxing out-of-state private aircraft, but the damage is done with the perception that private pilots should not spend much time in Maine.
The problem with the treasurer is still under review.
Rep. Windol Weaver
York
Help YCSA to help others
Dear Independent,
The York Community Service Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been assisting York families since 1959. Our mission is to provide financial assistance to York residents in need.
Right now we are seeing many families who are struggling to pay their energy bills.
There are many causes for the problem including loss of work, illness and simply, increases in the cost of living.
During 2007, we disbursed over $30,000 in fuel assistance to more than 75 households.
This winter we estimate that one in five York families will struggle to heat their homes. These include the elderly, the disabled and families with children.
You can help your neighbor by making a donation to YCSA'S Warm Hearts, Warm Homes, P.O. BOX 85, Cape Neddick, ME 03902.
We thank you in advance.
Lorna Ryan
Family Service Director
YCSA
Another view on Sunday sports
Dear Independent,
I would like to respond to all the letters lately about the controversy regarding attending worship on Sundays. I would like to state a different opinion.
I wouldn't consider myself a religious person, and most who know me would agree. People view religion in different ways. People also use Sundays for different things. Most of my Sundays were spent with family, friends and others, enjoying outside activities and attending sporting events, some of them my own. I attended church, but, being Catholic growing up, we almost always went on Saturday afternoon because we were busy on Sunday - not because we weren't religious; because we had options.
Also, most youth sports organizations do not have the option of saying, "We can't play on Sunday morning." There aren't enough fields or hours in the day to accommodate all of the teams... not just here, but all over the country. I happen to officiate on Sunday mornings, every week, from August to November. I don't see any less happy faces there than I see the people that are leaving church. Spending time with your family and supporting your kids is an important part of most people's lives, and all of us have to make certain sacrifices to be there for them.
I think it's a wonderful thought that everyone can learn from religion, no matter which one you celebrate, but don't put restrictions on something that people, young and old alike, enjoy on a weekly basis.
I think God will understand.
Tim Timmins
York
Little addresses claims
Dear Independent,
The York Weekly is at it again - this time claiming that I was operating improperly in my role as a selectman.
I take my oath of office very seriously. I do not condone any "substantive action" being taken outside of public meetings, and I do not believe that anyone on our Board of Selectmen has engaged in that practice. For a newspaper to assert my "urging board members to consider action outside of a selectmen's meeting" or that it is being done by any member of our board, is absurd.
My only issues within the board are procedural and not substantive. I did express, via email to the board, that I have some concerns. This is a typical and legal form for communicating procedural situations. I asked for no action and none was taken. Why a fellow board member would feel the need to forward these particular emails to others is puzzling.
I requested that The York Weekly publish my entire written dialogue with Mr. Perry as evidence that I was operating properly. However, the Weekly refused, stating that I would have to limit my response to about 400 words. With so many disparaging and untrue assertions made in the article and misstatements made in the editorial, it is impossible for me to adequately respond. Therefore, I invite anyone interested to e-mail me at elittle004@aol.com or telephone me at 363-7527 for this information in paper or electronic form.
As I listen to many of our citizens speak at our meetings, I am truly impressed with their knowledge of the subjects and their ability to deliver their thoughts. Then I ask myself, why are they not running for office or applying for committees? The answer is obvious.
Ted Little
York
School Consolidation's latest turn
Dear Independent,
The Consolidation Law requires that all school districts submit a plan for approval to the Maine Department of Education. These plans are organized into three categories: Districts that reorganize with other school districts in order to meet the 2500 student enrollment requirement.
Districts that currently serve over 2500 students. These districts must submit an Alternative Plan. The Alternative plan must identify how the district will demonstrate cost saving in four areas: special education, transportation, building maintenance and central administration.
Districts that are below the 2500 student enrollment requirement but qualify for an exception under one of the following criteria: geography, demographics, economics, transportation, population density and "other unique circumstances".
When York first began this journey, it believed that it would not qualify under any of the exemptions; thus, development of a Reorganization Plan with Wells/Ogunquit was begun. A letter of intent was filed to consider reorganization with these two communities in August and the state found York was in compliance with the requirements of the law. Planning efforts were then started with Wells/Ogunquit.
It was known that a number of school systems throughout the state with fewer than 2,500 students indicated in their letters of intent that they would be submitting an Alternative Plan and were then told that they would be in non-compliance with an Alternative Plan. It was recently discovered, however, that some of these districts moved forward with the submittal of Alternative Plans and were subsequently told they could continue with their Alternative Plans. This appears to be in conflict with the original intent of the law and the original decision of the commissioner. This situation creates a question of consistency about how each school district was evaluated to determine eligibility for using the Alternative Plan option. Based on this information, the York School Committee has informed the Commissioner that it intends to submit an Alternative Plan for school consolidation and will remain an independent district serving less than 2,500 students.
The reason this decision is critical is because school districts that have approved Alternative Plans will not lose any state aid money. If a school district reorganizes, as in the original plan with York and Wells/Ogunquit, and the community rejects the plan, then the community would be penalized by losing half of its state aid money. In contrast, if the district presents an Alternative Plan that is accepted by the state, then there is no community vote and there is no risk of losing state money.
Because the York Schools do not want to place the community in a situation where it may lose state aid money, the decision to submit an Alternative Plan, given the decision of the state in approving other Alternative Plans, is being pursued. This situation is certain to evolve during the next weeks and more details will be forthcoming as the state of affairs change.
Dr. Henry R. Scipione
Superintendent Schools
York
