I agree with the letter, “Merge Stonington into one community,” (April 15), but believe that all local towns should examine this premise closely, not just North Stonington. For the last 50 years taxes have risen year after year, along with state spending, burdening local towns.

If our local towns and communities are to remain solvent, without persistent and escalating yearly tax increases, we must take a closer look at combining redundant assets from small town to small town.

Groton Town and Groton City is another prime example of the need to regionalize. School enrollments are down in most communities, yet costs continue to rise because of salaries and benefits. Emergency services should be included, perhaps even public works departments, in this regional evaluation.

It is clear that middle-class taxpayers cannot continue to absorb the monumental costs associated with redundancy. Politics is the main obstacle, which has caused a devastating Connecticut and federal debt, acting as a cancer to most of our small communities.

Ending all government employee (local and state) retirement accounts (grand-fathered) and devising an attractive self-contribution plan into personal retirement savings, would address our tax escalation dilemma.

Imagine what our taxes might be if we were to accomplish both regionalism and retirement reforms.

John J. Chapman

Norwich