Much has been said about the effects that a tax and spending cap would have on Rochester. But when we say Rochester, what does that mean? I believe Rochester is the people, so the effects of a tax and spending cap are effects that will happen to the people.

Now, we all know that life as we know it has changed dramatically. Living costs for home heating fuel, gas for our cars, food, health care and property taxes are skyrocketing. Values of our homes, our savings and retirement accounts have all plummeted. State, county and federal governments have been passing more and more costs on to us and the recent federal bailout saddles the "middle" guy with debt that most of us will spend the rest of our lives paying for.

On top of all this, our local government has been increasing spending by an average of 8.8 percent a year for the last several years. At a time when our household wages have increased by an average of only 2.5 percent, how do they expect us to keep up? Why do the people who run our local government think it is OK to continue to increase spending when our ability to pay has drastically decreased?

I've had the opportunity to speak to many people and businesses over the past several months. Everyone I talk to tells me how they have been cutting back. We all leave the grocery store with a couple less bags, but pay the same amount of money. Many businesses have laid off workers, reduced benefits and have not given out raises. We need our local government to recognize the pain and share the burden.

A tax and spending cap will slow the growth of Rochester's spending to a level that the taxpayer can afford. It will force the City Council to prioritize and plan for the long term just like we do in our own households. A tax and spending cap will bring tax relief to residents and small business. It will help us from losing our homes and closing our businesses. A tax and spending cap will encourage more government innovation and efficiencies that will utilize our tax dollars far more effectively.

Franklin, Nashua, Laconia and Derry have all had great success working within some form of tax and/or spending cap. Fund balances (emergency money) have grown, land values have increased, road projects are paid for with cash (not bonds), police stations and schools have been built and downtowns have flourished. Additionally, every effort to repeal caps in any of these communities has been meet with higher percentages of voters in favor of their tax and/or spending caps.

The simple fact is Rochester needs a tax and spending cap because no one seems to be looking out for the taxpayers of our community. Rochester government has been on a spending spree that we cannot afford. The tax and spending cap will preserve the New Hampshire we all know and love.