Rumford residents have an obligation to pay taxes twice a year. What develops into a problem is when the amount rises continually.

Not withstanding the fact that costs rise for everyone, including running the town’s business, does it ever occur to the selectmen that rising costs for all goods and services affect the least able to pay the most?

People on Social Security must have a terrible time figuring out their budgets.

Reasons and excuses for the climbing costs still do not meet with approval when money is tight. The selectmen might be irritated by my comments, but they raised the taxes.

We, who like filet mignon, must eat more hamburger. I suggest the selectmen apply that thought to the tax plan. They say taxes were increased to meet the requirements of town obligations. In the past four years, my tax bill alone increased $430. Think of the groceries that would buy.

Would selectmen consider freezing the taxes for those residents older than 65 or 75? Paying taxes for 50 years doesn’t mean much, obviously.

Those people currently employed can’t relate to people who are retired and living on smaller budgets. They will, eventually.

The job of selectman is difficult, I know. And, thankless. I sympathize.

And more consideration must be given to the potential loss of taxes from the local paper mill. It might not always be there in the amount needed.

Richard Austin, Rumford