Moonlight

by: Bruce Bourgoine

Sat Feb 13, 2010 at 11:05:08 AM EST

Why will Maine not moonlight?  We suffer cash shortfalls and have had the equivalent of a number of "kitchen table" calculations. Long ago we cut unnecessary expenses and have trimmed and slashed more.  We see what is essential, especially for the educational investments and essential safety net services to serve our citizens.  Yet our only answer seems to be more cutting and curtailment orders.  We seem willing to go beyond the pale in addressing expenses and pretend that no income possibilities can ever be entered into our checkbook on behalf of Maine citizen critical needs.  Raising some revenue requires sacrifice but we appear determined to not examine how we might moonlight with reasonable shared sacrifice.  Worst yet, with our present expense only approach, we are shoving the burden and damaging effects of budget cuts onto local communities.

Arguing for budget cuts alone is the same as proposing tax increases solely as our solution.  Balance is needed.  Our budget shortfall for the next two years is projected to be over $200 million dollars per year and that number will see-saw based on actual revenues.  If our projected sales and use revenues for 2010 and 2011 are projected to be $1 billion dollars each year, how come a penny on the sales tax raising the rate from 5% to 6% with a reasonable sunset provision is not on the table?  This temporary 20% increase on 1 billion dollars has the potential to raise $200 million a year.  Sure, the math is not perfect and there would be adjustments needed but the conversation is not even happening.  We have sensibly and temporarily raised and lowered the sales tax in the past.  We need to have shared sacrifice; Maine needs to moonlight.