Education is the great equalizer; it enables our young people to get the skills and training they need to get to success. Our state has some serious problems with providing our kids with that education. Years ago, the citizens of Maine passed a resolution that the state should provide 55 percent of the cost of public education. That has NEVER happened. Money has been wasted(yes, wasted) on Charter Schools that have failed to deliver much of what they promised, some have even gone belly up when dissatisfied parents returned to the public school system. But the state has yet to meet or even get close to 55 percent. And Maine’s property tax reflects this.
There is a lot of talk from our Governor and his pals that income tax cuts are the answer to all our problems. These tax cuts seem always to benefit the wealthy end of the population and for the rest of us? Paying for the needed services, including the schools, just raises that property tax bill some more.
Proposition 2 was intended to (and would) readjust some of this imbalance: a tax on the wealthiest to be used for the education of all of Maine’s children. But, surprise, surprise, our Governor and his Republican legislative friends are not in favor of anything that doesn’t benefit those wealthiest citizens. It was passed by a majority of voters but it appears in Maine, the will of the voters doesn’t count.
Tell your Senator and House Representatives you expect them to honor the vote for Proposition 2 and provide for the children of Maine.
Joanne Dunlap
Rangeley
Joanne,
Maine hasent failed the schools, the schools have failed Maine. Every year the schools cost more and perform worse. The school systems are top heavy with administration costs and special ed. The formula whereas property taxes rise to support these spending machines, is not sustainable. Maine is loosing students and closing schools. Some towns, like Jay, are faced with cutting costs or taxing people people out of their homes. Governor Lepage laid out the ills of the exacting system and the cure. The teachers union fought it tooth and nail because, they lose money and influence. Thus we have the stalemate you outlined. Your fear of charter schools is unfounded. They actually increase competition and save taxpers money. Yes, they curtail teachers union influence, and that’s a good thing. In 20 years do you seriously think Rangeley will need a high school? Think the already burdened land owners are going to give you a blank check for a 10 person graduating class? Think again on that one, the handwriting is on the wall. Mainers need to cut taxes. The schools and welfare are the two biggest hogs at the trough. Neither system works well and both, like it or not, will be overhauled. Maine taxpayers are unfortunately tapped out.
Very well written Joanne. The problem I see with this situation is the wealthy dont like paying taxes anymore than the rest of us. The folks that dont care are the ones who dont pay taxes with there own money. They pay there bills with taxpayer dollars. Some dont pay property tax because they rent. We will never get the money that schools want each year because of all these circumstances. I dont see it as a republican fault. The politicians that keep giving free hand outs are the ones overspending the budget so we have to pick up the other end at school budget level….
When my property taxes, again PROPERTY taxes are 55%+ for RSU9 there is an issue and it is not with the state. The problem is with the illusion of needs. Every year a 1 million dollar increase. This is unsustainable. The current superintendent and board allowing this to happen should be ashamed of themselves. I know I will attract the common response of the left, “I must hate children and education.” No I hate this form of out of control taxation. Show me a 1 + Million dollar increase in revenue produced from the school system and maybe I can get behind voting for the increase.
Peter, according to the website http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/maine_state_spending_pie_chart the largest expenditures by state government are 1 health care 46%, 2 education 12%, pensions 11%.
Jesse, people who rent pay property taxes indirectly because the landlord pays and adds the cost to the rent. Rich people are able to influence those that write the laws to give them favorable treatment. The citizens initiative was a way to counterbalance their undue influence in the legislature. Our governor and mostly Republicans want to ignore the will of the people.
OK Joanne I will most certainly talk with my representative and repeat my objection to the special interests (NEA,,,Teachers Unions) twisting our arms so they can HAVE IT ALL.
Thank you for the reminder.
Ed,
Education and welfare account for 83 cents of every dollar the state spends. It actually nay be higher because my data is a year old. If you think we should be supporting the welfare slugs and the schools at this rate, where is the money to take care of the rest of the states needs. The rich people aren’t going to stick around and constantly get hammered by taxes. They move and take their money with them. Business leaves Maine rather than get fleeced. Professionals chose to practice elsewhere because Maine doesent offer them or their spouses a future. Our kids leave Maine as soon as they can so they can make adecent living and avoid the myriad of taxes levied on our residents. Colby Bates and Bowdin charge 60K a year for undergrads. How many of these over privileged snowflakes stick around to work in Maine? The wasteland Maine has become is littered with closed down industry, drug addled rejects claiming disability, welfare mammas on the dole and all manner of entitled citizens demanding more from town and state coffers that have been run dry by liberals in Augusta. Sorry to be so blunt but it’s game over for the old tax and spend shuffle. The fat lady has finished singing and the Maine taxpayers are tapped out. Have a good evening.
It’s really a shame that education and the teaching profession are not valued by so many that comment on this topic.
As for Gov. LePage and his disdain for what the voters wanted…isn’t that illegal?
It’s really a shame that some people have such disregard for seniors and people with limited income resources.
The way public education is funded is not sustainable.
Peter, well stated, unfortunately Marie E can’t muster up a response to your comments/facts.
Just as the left always does.
Yes we need better schools
Leaving out the obvious typos and the person who does not( ” dont” ) believe in punctuation),
we have,sigh:
Maine hasent failed the schools,
Maine is loosing students
welfare slugs – not misspelled but nasty and should be moderated
the rest of the states needs.
doesent offer them or their spouses a future.
. Colby Bates and Bowdin charge
over privileged snowflakes – not misspelled but nasty and in need of moderation
drug addled rejects claiming disability, welfare mammas on the dole and – nasty and in need of moderation- or better yet, an ability to express opinions with words and not name calling,
pay taxes with there own money.
They pay there bills with
I wonder Hmmm, What’s your point?
@RB, Sr.
I’m just trying to ‘have a ‘good evening’ although “… I am disturbed by the idea that the people of Maine could collect tens of thousands of signatures to put a policy before the voters; that a majority of Maine voters could vote in favor of that policy; and that then our elected representatives would overturn it,…”
http://mainebeacon.com/maine-small-business-owners-speak-in-defense-of-successful-referendum-to-tax-the-wealthy/
Whatever the majority of people want does not really matter
The United States is a republic not a democracy
HHHMMMMMand Bill Reid
The point is that this discussion is about education and the post by Peter is riddled with mistakes; hence the need for education reform.