LETTER | Biddeford doesn’t face a false choice. It faces a necessary one

Editor:

The idea that Biddeford must “hold multiple truths at once” sounds reasonable, but it sidesteps a harder reality: priorities require trade-offs. When costs are rising for residents, choosing not to limit spending is a choice—one that shows up directly in higher property taxes.

Organizations like Heart of Biddeford played an important role years ago in revitalizing a struggling downtown. That success should be acknowledged. But success also raises a fair question: why should taxpayers continue subsidizing an organization that was expected to become self-sustaining?

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Downtown Biddeford is no longer defined by empty storefronts. Private investment, rising property values, and increased demand suggest that the original mission has largely been achieved. At some point, continuing public funding shifts from investment to dependency.

The claim that reducing funding for community organizations is simply “cut, cut, cut” mischaracterizes the issue. The real question is whether every program funded 10 or 15 years ago still delivers measurable, citywide value today. If it doesn’t, reallocating or reducing that funding isn’t an attack on community—it’s responsible governance.

Equally important, not all “community investment” is equal. Funding that expands the tax base, improves infrastructure, or directly reduces long-term costs benefits everyone. Funding that primarily sustains organizational payrolls—without clear, broad impact—deserves closer scrutiny.

Residents aren’t asking for a city with no services or vision. They’re asking for discipline, accountability, and relief from rising costs. That’s not a narrow perspective—it’s a practical one shared by many households trying to keep up.

Biddeford doesn’t face a false choice. It faces a necessary one: aligning spending with today’s realities, not yesterday’s successes.

Ben Neveux | Biddeford

Editor’s Note | Ben Neveux is a member of the Biddeford Gazette’s Community Advisory Council.

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