Dear Editor:

Budgets longer than two years contain greater risk that future projections will not materialize. Citizens expect their state would have different budgets reflecting their unique resources, needs and desired goals and objectives generating increased productivity, reduced expenses and greater prosperity for the majority.

ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) recently publicly touted their corporation-approved budget plan for every state, including Maine. That ALEC is an arm of the John Birch Society led by the Koch Brothers was not the issue for the Democrats. The real issues were fair taxation, lower risks, a need for investments in Maine’s future, and a balanced budget.

Finding budget holes and missing items important for Maine families, the Democrats began to analyze, assess and solve fiscal issues that would result in a lower risk, fair and balanced budget not ending with a $300 million dollar shortfall in 2019.

This was a Maine budget created by Maine legislators for Maine’s citizens. They titled it “A Better Deal For Maine” because it balanced without increasing debt, lowered property taxes, and invested in Maine’s future.

Democrats are known for enthusiastic discussions on political topics, especially budgets. One way thinking is not productive when solving complex problems in the fairest possible way. Diversity in solutions is essential to producing a better deal. In the end, however, the proof of the pudding is how easy citizens can follow the plan, and how it compares to an alternative when implemented.

Maine’s Center for Economic Policy evaluated the numbers based on seven income groups – four in the lower to middle income range, and three at the top percent of income levels (15 percent, 4 percent and 1 percent). The seven-group break down of the distributional impact provides a better insight on fairness of the plan for average annual incomes ranging from $14,000 to $838,000.

The better deal reduces overall taxes for five out of seven income groups and the last two higher income groups increase by 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. In addition to the larger tax reductions, the better deal has no shortfall and is still able to invest in our future in education, healthcare, and critical services for individuals and businesses.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb