Governor LePage Rejects Mayors? Coalition Proposal to Raise Taxes

May 14, 2013

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 14
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary (207) 287-2531

AUGUSTA ? Governor Paul R. LePage released the following statement today responding to suggestions from the Mayors? Coalition on how to balance the upcoming two-year budget:

?The Coalition proposed three options: raise taxes, raise taxes or raise taxes. How original,? said the Governor. ?However, they don?t address the real problem facing our state, which is out-of-control government spending.

?When I was mayor, I was able to reduce taxes without reducing services. I know that it can be done if local officials are willing to make the same difficult decisions I made as mayor.

?I made the tough choices when I presented my balanced budget four months ago. The state cannot keep spending money we don?t have, and I will not keep adding to the tax burden of hardworking Mainers.?