Portland Press Herald
Portland, Maine

To the Editor:

Your article "Property prices  and taxes  explode in Maine's wild market" makes clear that property taxes are rising at least in part because people from out of state are purchasing waterfront property, often for record prices.  This has the effect of making it difficult for some people living in Maine year-round to afford their taxes. 

There is an entirely equitable solution.  Suppose X, who lives out of state, purchases property for a high price, and thereby causes the taxes on surrounding property to rise.  Let X (who has caused the increase) pay for that increase, thereby letting Y (who lives in Maine year-round) continue to afford housing in which he or she has lived all along.

William Vaughan, Jr.
Chebeague Island