To the editor:
In reference to Mr. Cyr’s June 24 letter. Mr. Cyr says that he doesn’t like to pay taxes any more than anyone else but has a little heartburn over what the citizens in the so called Lyndon area are working so hard to do.
I live in the city area and don’t have an axe to grind over this issue but I applaud them for all the hard work that they’ve done on this issue. They have followed the letter of State of Maine laws that provide a way out of high and unconscionable property tax by seceeding from the city of Caribou. I say go for it folks, it will be good for both Caribou and Lyndon.
If they succeed it will create the competition needed on both sides of the fence to do due diligence in creating an atmosphere of living within our means and keep taxes down to an acceptable level for all the citizens within the boundaries of the towns they live in. Caribou’s town fathers have been on the welfare system of the state and federal funding for too long and have developed that mentality that programs should never die such as federal grants and state revenue sharing all of which was supposed to be in the form of help during hard times but not ongoing. This is the reason this country is in such trouble with an $18 trillion-plus national debt and still ongoing getting our children we leave behind with a debt that will bankrupt the country and create chaos that will be unbearable and will lead this great country down to a Third World status.
Also name me a time when these so called grants and revenue sharing programs that were supposed to be used to keep taxes down did anything but embellish programs that created more and higher taxes going forward and making it impossible to survive in our home town.
Remember when they used grant money to turn the bricks over in the downtown area and planted trees that was supposed to create an atmosphere that would attract crowds of people to the downtown. And remember the fabulous recreation center which was given the heavenly name of the wellness center which we realy didn’t need but was built with the enticement of grants and unaffordable matching funds and the famous words “build it and they will come.” Well folks none of what was supposed to happen happened but it did drive up taxes that we can enjoy. Right?
Getting back to the real issue of secession, this is the United States of America and I say the citizens in this area have a right to manage their own destiny and they found their solution and are going with it but it’s by far not done yet and there are still some hurdles. If Mr. Cyr really thinks his taxes are too high why doesn’t he get involved with the people who have the same mindset and try to do something about it. Also I get the feeling that feeling that Mr. Cyr is not happy being outside the parameters of the secession area.
The crux of the matter is that our property taxes are to high and being driven by unbridled spending by the City Council spurred on by high-priced employees and benefit packages unheard of in the private sector that has to pay all the bills. What do you expect when citizens with concerns about this stay home and gives the City Council free reign to do what they want when they think everyone is fat and happy with all their decisions.
Also most citizens that have concerns are only thinking about themselves, if they cut a deal with the city to get a deal for themselves, they don’t care a hill of beans about their neighbors. It’s every man for himself. Nothing will ever change until all concerned citizens come together as a viable group and firmly express their concerns to the city council, the governing body of the city.
Another thing Mr. Cyr mentioned was the fact that he accepted a position on the city planning board along with five others with no planning board experience in 2013 and ‘14. Why would anyone be allowed to be on the planning board with no experience? You would have thought that he would have attended a multitude of planning board meetings to get some knowledge about what this entails.
Is it any wonder that a certain group wants to break ties to Caribou and manage their own affairs? Let me make it perfectly clear with the secession group. Do not cave in to false promises by this city to come up with an acceptable conclusion not to secede. The proof is before you that is positive proof that the generation of higher taxes this year proves that they haven’t changed their spots or stripes.
Wilfred Martin
Caribou
