Prior to this November’s elections many voter’s concerns were identified. Concerns include high property taxes, high taxes in general, drugs and crime, overdose deaths, lack of affordable housing, high electrical rates, a steep decline in Maine’s student’s standing, and a bleak future for our young if things don’t turn around. These are legitimate concerns. Wallethub.com rates Maine #1 in property tax and #4 in overall tax burden, USAtoday.com rates Maine #6 in electrical rates, and a U.S. News report titled “How states Compare in Best High Schools”, rated Maine dead last at #51 (Washington DC was counted).

How did we get into this mess? Maine was in good shape when Governor Lepage left office. Most of the previously listed concerns were not on voters’ minds. When Governor Mills and Democrats took complete control of the state government on January 2, 2019, the 2018 expenditures were $8.06 billion. Maine taxes and electrical costs were high, but they were not a crisis. The American dream was still a possibility for our young.

Skip to the present – the 2024 budget is $13.84 billion, if totally spent, it will be a 72% increase in six years. Businesses can’t find help, and some are shutting down. As I write this, CBS Channel 13 announced another nursing home closure due to inability to find staff, the thirtieth closure in the past decade. Governor Janet Mills just announced a billion-dollar shortfall. The solution, expressed by Democratic candidates, was higher taxes for our struggling and failing businesses, a “Wealth Tax” on the rich, and price controls. To my knowledge, no Democrat candidate talked about cutting programs or spending or any plan to fix our broken education system.

Our Democratically controlled state government, after six years in total control, has been given two more years. Maine is in trouble, many are struggling, and the future looks bleak. Unless dramatic spending cuts are made, hundreds of millions will have to be taken from our taxpayers. We, as citizens, can only watch and hope that the same people who manufactured this mess will have a complete change of heart, find some conservative values, and restore Maine’s future. I hope they rise to the occasion, if not we have at least two more years of suffering. Maine people deserve better than this.