With tax laws, Poliquin has a troubling disregard that hurts everyone else

Running for office, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin has made it clear he doesn’t like taxes.

But it was never so clear just how much he hates them. He hates them so much that he didn’t pay his fair share or pay them on time.

Last week, the Associated Press broke the story that over the last decade Poliquin has paid his property taxes late 31 times.

He’s been late four times since being elected to Congress in 2014.

It’s not the first time Poliquin has come under scrutiny for his sketchy tax practices. He has also been caught taking advantage of the state’s Tree Growth Tax Law, which gives property tax breaks for managing timber harvest in a sustainable way.

In that case, he paid just $21 on 10 acres of his multi-million dollar oceanfront estate in 2010.

Apparently, Poliquin believes — or at least acts like — the tax laws don’t apply to him.

In statements to the AP and to other news outlets, Poliquin tries to dismiss his late tax payments with an explanation that’s borderline insulting to all the rest of us who pay our taxes on time.

He told the Morning Sentinel that for most Mainers “property taxes are paid without a check even being cut or even a thought about the bill.”

I can’t speak for everyone, but every six months when my property tax bill comes, I think about it. And having spent a lot of time talking with voters, I know that they are concerned about their property taxes, pay attention to how they are spent and are sensitive when they go up.

Poliquin may justify his actions by saying he’s just doing due diligence, but in fact, he’s cheating his neighbors and the communities where he owns property when he pays his bills late — or abuses programs to which he’s not entitled.

Rep. Bruce Poliquin at the University of Maine on July 29. Ashley L. Conti | BDN

Rep. Bruce Poliquin at the University of Maine on July 29. Ashley L. Conti | BDN

He’s not sticking it to “big government.” He’s hurting all the people who pay their taxes on time and in full. (Disclosure: I am a Democrat, Poliquin is a Republican; Emily Cain, his opponent in the 2nd Congressional District, is a friend and I’ve donated to her campaign.)

Portland, where I live, started sending property tax bills out last week. It comes at a tough time in my household. The 93-year-old boiler (it was converted from coal to oil in 1932) that’s gotten my family through 13 winters needs to be replaced. No small investment.

Add in the cost of asbestos abatement, and it’s a serious crunch.

In this regard, my family isn’t any different than most others. The property tax bill comes when it comes — not when it’s convenient or when they might have a few extra dollars stashed away. And when the tax bill comes, most people pay it because it’s their obligation for being a good citizen.

Maine’s tax system is surely skewed. We rely too much on property taxes to fund essential services. But instead of being an excuse not to pay them, it actually makes paying them on time even more important.

Portland breaks down how property taxes are distributed on its semi-annual bills (with rounding, numbers don’t add up to 100 percent):

  • 49 percent for education;
  • 18 percent for public safety;
  • 13 percent for debt service;
  • 6 percent for public works;
  • 3 percent for county taxes;
  • 3 percent for parks, recreation and facilities;
  • 2 percent for health and human services;
  • 2 percent for the libraries;
  • 2 percent for metro; and
  • 1 percent for general government.

Of course, I’d like to pay less. But when I look at that list, I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. Frankly, it’s a bargain. Property taxes fund about 71 percent of the cost of local government.

Property taxes — in Portland and around the state — overwhelmingly go to fund K-12 education. That’s an investment in our children and in our state’s future that I wholeheartedly support.

The police and fire departments in my community are top notch. They keep my family safe, and I believe that they’ll be there if we need them.

In fact, in every category, there are investments in things that make our communities stronger, whether it’s road repair or parks or spaces for public events.

Poliquin is a big-time businessman and a member of Congress. He didn’t make a mistake when he was late with his taxes or when he inappropriately enrolled in the Tree Growth program.

He made a decision. And that decision hurt everyone else.

David Farmer

About David Farmer

David Farmer is a political and media consultant in Portland, where he lives with his wife and two children. He was senior adviser to Democrat Mike Michaud’s campaign for governor and a longtime journalist. You can reach him at dfarmer14@hotmail.com.