Belgrade weighs in against TABOR

Copyright © 2006 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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BELGRADE -- Selectpersons want residents to know that they oppose the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

A resolution that they adopted earlier this week states their position that TABOR would harm local government.

"TABOR establishes poorly designed and irrational budget restriction formulas that attempt to dictate the amount of money local voters can raise and spend to provide municipal and school services, directly interfering with local control over crucial budget decisions," the resolution reads.

Four of the five selectpersons voted in favor of the resolution. Selectperson Christopher Merrow abstained.

from the vote, saying that he had not researched the matter enough to form an opinion.

One selectperson who was outspoken in his lack of confidence in TABOR was the board's chair, Richard Damren.

"After attending presentations by both the proponents and opponents of TABOR, I understand the positions of both sides," he said. "However, I cannot vote to support this approach to limiting the growth of taxes at the municipal level."

Town manager Dennis L. Keschl said that TABOR supporters are frustrated with the failure of the legislature to provide other methods of property tax relief. But TABOR isn't the right way to control government spending, the resolution says.

"Colorado, the only state that has ever adopted a TABOR system, suspended the core element of TABOR in 2005 because of deteriorating infrastructure, public services and schools," it reads.

In conclusion, the selectpersons resolved to work to defeat the measure by informing local voters of the "potential negative impacts of TABOR on important local services, quality of life and local control over taxes and spending."

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com