Should Northern Maine have a right to exist?? (Augusta, Raymond: sales, credit)

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Now you're confusing Maine with Vermont.

But on topic:
I've never lived in northern Maine, but I have lived in a "Disorganized Township" and small towns in the southern half. Have attended a fair number of annual town meetings (selectman form of government). I like the meetings because they hash out budgets like you would at home - "How much money do we have? How much did we earn through investments? Shall we grant the request of the local <insert name of organization here> for X number of dollars? Can we afford the extra $500 that the fire department wants this year? Do we agree to take out a bond for <insert need here>?"

I understand that for society as a whole to function, everybody needs to make an individual contribution. My taxes help to support school systems even though I have no kids in school, but I understand that education is a vital need. Police, fire, and rescue departments are also vital. Even if I never personally call for help, their service is a community-wide need. I also think it's a good thing that my taxes assist those who otherwise cannot get medical or other necessary help. I might be one of them some day - who knows? I agree to some of my tax money being spent on preserving natural resources and quality of life. Once those things are gone, you can never get them back again.

Things I don't agree with are waste, inefficiency, pork-barrel projects, and any political entity which uses public gain for personal advantage.
I'd like to see local and state governments sit down and hammer out a set of spending priorities based upon real need and vision for the future. Then carve out the waste, re-direct what we do have to where it's needed, proportionate to the need, and do some creative thinking to find ways of increasing available resources.

As I said in an earlier post I personally see the benefit of supporting necessary services to Northern Maine towns. Fire, rescue, schools, police, roads, bridges are all necessary anywhere in the state. What Fly is asking is how many people would STAY in these areas if the schools were bad, roads were worse than they already are,fire departments could not be maintained,the cost of busing kids to school became prohibitive? He was asking a simple question really. Would Northern Maine exist without State support. I think the answer is clear that it would survive though it would not look like it does now, and perhaps that would be a contributing factor as to whether people would settle in the North or choose the Southern part of the state where goods, and services are more readily available.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Played what card you moved didn't you!!! Am I stating something that is not a fact here?
If you thought things were so great here why move away?

A lot of it was the attitude you are showing right now. Still no links or proof of your statements though.

Plus I never said life was so great there. Meaning the ENTIRE state not just the northern part. We could move anyplace in the US because of the types of jobs we have. We chose what was best for OUR family, and that was not a continued physical presence in Maine. I still have concerns about the state and the economy there. I left behind my parents, a Brother, several nieces and nephews, Godchildren, numerous friends, etc... I am very concerned about the upcoming winter and the issues in the state. The growing division between the feelings in the North toward the South and the other direction as well. It makes no sense to stand on one side or the other pointing a finger shouting how it is the other sides fault for the troubles in the state. That honor falls about in the middle, right around Augusta and the idiots we keep sending there. If the state is make it through the changing times it has to be as an entire state not one area thinking it carries the rest regardless of location.

The major thing is that ALL fire, police, services in general in the entire state receives state funding. It is ALL of our taxes working together for the entire state.

[flycessna]

Maybe I should have posted this in the Portland forum

[Bydand]

You know, we are never going to see a middle ground here, so I am going to bow out of the brewing argument before it gets too heated and bad feelings crop up. No reason to have it go that far over a system of taxes and distribution of those monies that neither of us has an inside track on, and neither has the power to change.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Is anyone really taking the stance there is NO redistibution of wealth from the southern Maine into Northern Maine. Come on now!!!I mean....we can debate how much there is and wether or not it exessive.....but really??

So lets here it...............IS THERE ANYONE THAT BELIEVES THERE NOT A NET DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH THAT PASSES FROM SOUTHERN MAINE INTO NORTHERN MAINE VIA TAXES?

So far two posters don't believe it.....where are the facts? ....I want the figures! If you were the State of Maine would you have statistics readily available to show the Southern people of the state how they are being taxed to support the poorer sections of the State?? I think not! You need a forensic accountant to trace it back to the South. That is why we have to rely on logic here. Southern Maine has all the people. More people equals more revenue for the State. Northern Maine has far fewer people spread out over long distances. Nothing wrong with that it's just the way it is. Northern populations cannot be taxed higher than they already are. Incomes are lower in Northern Maine, land values are lower in Northern Maine, population densities are much lower in Northern Maine....so The State has to help these rural areas with roads, schools, busing,plowing, etc. Otherwise these towns could not afford these services. Where does this State money come from??? Here's where the logic comes in to play.....Southern Maine perhaps???

[Maine Writer]

You said it was factual. I'd like to see those facts. Where did I say I didn't believe you?

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

You said it was factual. I'd like to see those facts. Where did I say I didn't believe you?

The fact is the money for State supported services comes from the general fund. The fact is the general fund derives MOST of funding from Southern Maine. Those facts are indisputable. If you want an actual breakdown you can go to the town websites of every town in the State and see what they contribute to the State coffers every year. A quick glance of where the population lies in Maine will keep you from pursuing the obvious. By the way we DID land on the moon in 1969 too though I don't have any indisputable facts in front of me to prove it to you!

[Maine Writer]

Adding: I'm not being confrontational about this. If there are facts available I am honestly interested in seeing the information.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

You said it was factual. I'd like to see those facts. Where did I say I didn't believe you?

it's hard enough to get an answer from my city assessor as to why my rotten shed adds value to my home let alon digging up facts about the flow of state monies......didn't dhs lose like 30 million dollars a few years ago??

I was specifically told by my legistlature that it would be cheaper to pay everyperson in aroostook county and washington counties off and move them down here. And then let private industry do what they want to northern maine. I didn't ask him for facts though........I just kind of took him at face value and got the jist of what he was saying.

thats all that was meant by this thread. Is there an investment in Northern Maine by the state government as a whole. How much is really being spent on keeping Northern Maine alive? if any?. And is there a return....is it a right?

.....it must be a Maine thing........I have never seen so many people get so uptight over a real issue. No wonder nothing changes here......everyone has too much pride to admitt or discuss when something "might not" be working.

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by flycessna

This is a question I thought about when reading through the school consolidation thread. Does northern Maine have a right to exist......as it currently does....or does things need to change to make the system fair.

First............anyone has a right to live where they want.

but at what point is the rest of us responsible to make that happen.

When I think of the money spent on mainting roads, educating children, providing police and fire protection (no matter how loosly it is) ect. It comes to a point when people need to decide at what cost is it too much.

I don't have any figures.......but pose this a basic question. I do not believe School children that live on peaks island get free transportation from the island to the mainland. And I don't know if there are any caps on how much busing is provided for school children in Northern Maine.

this is an economic thred.ok hears my two cents.the school budget would be fine if the state used the money alogated for the fiscal school year on the schools.but they dont they divert it to some other project and the schools have to cut their budget.at one time aroostook county produced 80% of maines potatos.as far as the fire and police go most towns in maine have vol.fire and no police.the state or the county covers the policeing and the towns people volinteer at the fire house.its wastefull we spent 26000 to the county last year for police.we could have hired our own part time deputy for that.its not about who diservs what.if people want to use that theory then people who dont have children or whos children are grown should get lower taxes.but it dont work that way.we are all in this together folks.all for one and one for all.my children are home schoold but i still pay for the school budget.its the way it is.its been that way for as long as i can remember and people have been complaining for as long as i can remember.its not going to change.if you want to beleave the guy or girl you elect when they tell you that they are going to help your county or town then so be it.howd that work out the last time you herd it.