Editor:

    As a condo owner I think someone needs to explain the difference between condos and apartments to Mayor Jim Soule.  In his letter to the editor in the Sept. 5 Sentry he explained why recycling services were not provided for condo owners by repeatedly stating they were “for profit” entities.  

   The last time I checked when I paid my mortgage and property taxes no profit was being made. I’m pretty sure the only time I am going to make a profit is if I happen to sell my condo for more than I paid for it, just like any other homeowner. Apartment buildings have one owner. The owner can set their rents for each unit high enough to cover their expenses and make a profit. I agree they are “for profit” entities. However condos are buildings where each individual owns their separate unit. We pay a mortgage and property taxes just like any other homeowner. 

    A lot of condo owners actually live in their condos as their primary residence. Sure come condo owners rent out their units to make a profit but there are plenty of homes that are also rented out for profit and I somehow doubt the trash and recycling trucks skip those “for profit” entities.  Condo owners do have association fees that include lawn maintenance, snow removal and trash removal. The first two I agree with. Condo owners don’t expect the city to be responsible for their lawn and snow removal any more than a homeowner would expect the city to come and mow their lawn and shovel their driveway.

    Mayor Soule brings up the point that to buy bins for the 1,300 hundred condo units in South Portland would cost the city $84,500. What he neglected to mention was the taxes that the 1,300 condo owners contribute to the city. I pay about $1,600 in taxes each year. Let’s say each condo owner pays on average $1,200.  $1,200 multiplied by 1,300 is $1,560,000 in taxes that are contributed to the city by condo owners. 

    As a condo owner who pays property taxes to the City of South Portland I do not expect the city to as Mayor Soule stated to “pick up the tab” for my trash and recycling. I expect the city to use a portion of the taxes that I pay to provide me with the same services as any other homeowner.

Kathleen Albanese

South Portland