The people who have worked tirelessly over the last three years to reduce the school budget have failed. Why? Because there’s more of “them” than there is of “us.” And yes, it truly is a them vs. us situation.
THEM equals the school board, the administration and the teachers with strong unions to back them. They’ve won.
US equals senior citizens with limited incomes, young couples just starting out life in a new home, the working people who have supported this district for decades and people with limited discretionary income. They’ve lost one more time.
What’s worse, all the supporters do not care! They got what they want – their raises, their benefits, their programs – wasteful or not – and all in the name of “The Kids.” Look how they rallied the kids with threats to eliminate music and sports – stuff the kids like.
Several Board Members have said “the taxes didn’t go up.” That’s partly true. Residential property, for the most part, did not go up. But it was because the state came through with an increase in Homestead Exemption. And then the State came through with some additional money in late July or early August. Tax reduction for residents did not go down because the school budget went down. We’re looking at another $880,000 increase. Businesses in Farmington got hit with a 3.5 percent increase. (Yes, I did the research) And business owners vote!
So what happens next year? Hold on to your wallets. Because the school does not intend to spend less. Nor be transparent. Plus we’re going to have to start paying on a bond issue of $300,000+ that was voted in in June.
Again, thank you to all of you who supported our efforts to reduce the school budget. And when you get your tax bill next year, remember Concerned Citizens for Sensible Education and our efforts to make the school more accountable. Because once we go away, spending will escalate and tax bills will go up and waste will continue. Be prepared to tighten your belt again.
Nancy Porter
Concerned Citizens for Sensible Education Member
“the school does not intend to spend less.” I hope not! Does anyone really plan to spend less money next year than they did this year? The whole notion of “flat-funding” is a pipe dream from a fantasy world. I’m a land surveyor, and last year I spent $135 on 50 pieces of iron rebar. This year the same product cost me $220. If I had told my supplier I intended to “flat fund” my supplies this year he’d have told me to take a hike. As to raises — you folks are always telling us we have to run the schools like a business. Any business owner will tell you that good employees have to paid well or they shove off. And that means periodic raises because flat-funding their own lives is not an option for them, either.
Well Stated, Nancy.
When you voted to cut special ed, you showed your true colors and THAT rallied the troops. You need a new strategist.
I am a senior citizen on a limited fixed income. I am a “them”. I wholeheartedly support our schools, teachers and, most importantly, our students. Also if I were a kid, I would have joined the other kids rallying against the depredations of my school by the “us” faction.
Thanks to all who voted to support our children.
‘
Political conflicts are strange, sometimes the appearance is not the same as the reality.
No one has won yet – there is still a budget meeting and a vote to go. Everyone should try to participate. But even if it ends up that we get this budget, it is a budget much smaller than otherwise would have been the case if not for the Concerned Citizens for Sensible Education group. The board fretted over even small line items in budget deliberations this year because of the recognition that there would be intense scrutiny. Money for positions that frankly are needed and would do a lot of good was not allocated due to a desire to make sure we don’t raise taxes. A real discussion emerged about priorities, and we continue to be one of the lower funded schools in terms of cost per pupil. Our salaries are below average for the region.
Yes, there was a budget increase – but almost all of that was mandated (we have no choice but to spend more), and most of that was reimbursed. Otherwise libraries remain under funded, salaries are still below regional average, and world languages remain cut. If the goal of CCSE was to force us to analyze the budget and spend only what is necessary to maintain a decent education, they won. If the goal was to reduce tax requests from the board, they won – $545,000 less in two years. if the goal was to force the board to really look at the budget carefully and not fund things we’d like but aren’t absolutely necessary, they won.
They may not have total victory – the draconian cuts that were attempted last month were soundly rejected. But that’s only looking at one episode. In the vast scheme of things the debate has been shaped by, and board actions influenced by, the CCSE. They organized and were effective, even if they overshot and went too far in the last budget attempt. I hope the entire community remains engaged as we go to another budget meeting and vote.
But I don’t see “them vs. us,” I see a community engaged in healthy debate over a complex budget. I also think people are better understanding how little leeway we have on a lot of spending, and how well we perform compared to other districts. I hope that should the next budget pass – by no means a certainty – we can talk with each other as community members with a common goal to keep taxes down, but have quality education. I believe all of this debate is healthy – people are engaged, and hopefully if we talk to each other ,we’ll be able to understand each other.
Right to the point and very precise in what has happened and what is going to happen! Now, for those of you who can use your imaginations, please fast forward to several years from now and “see” what the school budget will be and especially what the special education part of it will be if current trends continue. What will happen to regular education budgets? Sports, music, art etc.? That is, unless new management takes place!
Lisa….when we’re given CORRECT information on FUNDING, SPENDING, and REGULATIONS, we’ll have more of an understanding. But until the School is forthcoming with the RIGHT information, and CORRECT information, we can only guess. And when Special Ed goes from $2.5 in 2010 to $5.4 Million in this budget, we feel we have a RIGHT to QUESTION. But I’m still reeling from the amount of money the Administration has increased in 2 1/2 years.
“I find ‘speaking one’s mind’ pretty overrated, in that it usually turns out to be a way of aggrandizing the speaker at the expense of the helpless listener.” — Joan Didion
Now what CCSE needs to do is figure out some kind of ‘scare tactic” to get people to vote against the school budget. Evidently the thought of losing your home or having to do without basic essentials isn’t concerning enough. Even watching your neighbor struggle to make ends meet seems overlooked and not important anymore. Knowing that the kids education could be better and that money could be better managed would seem to be enough to get out the 1400 more votes necessary to once again vote the budget down or in at referendum, depending on the budget meeting outcome.If that worked for the school people it should work for those on “the other side.”
Maybe we should treat RSU 9 like a professional sports team. When the team continues to fail they replace the head coach first. Maybe Mr. Ward needs to be replaced as our head coach?
Nancy, correct and accurate information is given in the mailer sent to each household, with graphs and charts. Claims that contradictory information or wrong info has been given are false and completely without merit.
Woodsman, I’m not sure what you mean by “new management.” Special education is a very well defined and regulated program, with diagnoses required and specific legal steps. It’s not something “management” can change. The good news is that we do get a lot of reimbursements because of that, which is why property taxes only pay for about 37% of the budget – most of the money comes from elsewhere. Also, you seem to always ignore the fact that when compared to other districts, we appear very frugal – lower cost per pupil, lower salaries, and certainly not out of the norm. I know that costs rose in the last ten years – not just here, but in districts all over (that data is available too). That was not caused by school boards wanting to spend more, but by changing laws and requirements. We’ve actually cut programs during that time. Please, look at the data, check out the comparative statistics. We’re one of the better managed school districts.
Oh, one more thing Woodsman – I”m not sure how you can fault the school board for people “losing their homes” when we’ve asked for $545,000 LESS from taxpayers the last two years. That is a sign that we are listening and responding to concerns about taxes. The cut that was passed and voters rejected would have threatened both positions (class size) and some extracurricular activities. Those weren’t “scare tactics” but a reflection of what would happen if such an irresponsible budget were to have passed. Seriously, you guys have made an impact, we’re avoiding a lot of spending one could make an argument for in order to make sure we don’t raise taxes. I hope you can accept and appreciate that – your efforts have made a difference.
” we appear very frugal “. Well, as long as everything ” appears ” good, why question it?
Where does the State get their money from that they give to the schools? Do they have a money tree? I think that their money comes from us the people. An increasing budget adds additional tax burden to the people weather from property taxes or from state sales tax, so lets stop saying that taxes are not increasing, because they are. An increasing budget must get paid for by some form of taxation. And this “per student cost” that we keep hearing about being lower than the average, If this number is correct, tax us based on that number ; number of students times per student cost equals school budget.
Scott, I appreciate your comments and your concern for both sides of the issue. YOU are exemplary of what a board member should be. BUT, you are only one of a few that shows that. Those of more than 2 or 3 years on the board seem to ‘look down their noses”, sneer and by facial language appear disgusted with opposition to WARD’S budget requests. Please keep in mind that things like the China stuff, intervention program in math, the shuttle bus runs, large administrative raises, benefits, a large electric bill etc.are very questionable and looked upon by many as unnecessary. Concentration on teaching the 3 R’S should be the priority and the removal of distractions and frivolous additions to the budget should be immediate. I thank you for what you do. It certainly takes a lot of your personal time, valued at what price? Back to the fact that a $1,000,000 +or- increase each year in school costs has got to cease!
I know that the “They” would come forward and say here what they have said. Few of us want to fight against such odds any longer. There are so many who recite the usual “it is for the kids” and forget about the others in our community who have to pay for local education. The record of achievement for RSU9 , which the State has assembled, is not impressive. Take a look at the No Child Left Behind assessments for language arts and mathematics in the RSU9 system by going to https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_9e5E77vXdxWHB5cGVWT1E2VTQ/view. Throw more money at it and it will improve? It’s got a long way to go. I’m not confident of that.
I believe it is very possible that at the next public budget setting on the eleventh, the new budget being proposed will actually increase, YES increase, because the “US” will not be there to hold it back. The first budget proposal this year was $33.9 million. I would not be surprised to see it exceed $40 million at the next public budget meeting. Who would stop it? Take a look at the latest budget proposal everyone received recently in the mail and you’ll see that, right now, according to their own publication, RSU9 is operating on the 2016-2017. It is no disaster!
How many of the School Board Members have actually held public give-and-take meetings with their constituents in each of their towns to see how the people who pay the bills see things? I believe, None.
So, if any citizen wants to oppose whatever the public meeting on October eleventh comes up with, then his or her only resort is to vote NO at the ten town referendum vote on October twenty forth.
A logical approach to building a budget would be to start at “0”. For instance,take a look at each school and see what it would cost to operate it for the year 2017-2018. NOT use what it cost last year as a starting point, or the year before that or 2010. Certain costs may be higher, BUT many might be lower, such as newer , less experienced teachers, fuel costs, maintenance, fewer students, fewer staff etc.BUILD FROM THERE in each cost area not from where it was at the end of the year. Maybe there was a surplus. By the way , my belief is that new teachers fresh from college do a better job than older, tired , burned out ones! Same with administrators!
Bill, it would be a disaster if we had to operate the whole year on last year’s budget. It’s not now a disaster because it’s October. The budget allows over $30 million to be spent – now in October we are far, far from that amount. If the “yes” vote had passed the last budget we’d be looking at cutting about 30 positions and many programs. The only reason we’re not doing that is we’re hopeful that the public rejection of that budget means ultimately we’ll have one that does not necessitate cuts. So the spending is at a pace in line with the new proposed budget.
I really want to hold the line at this budget amount, and still watch any new spending closely. There are different opinions. I’ve talked to people mad that we’re not funding things like more library spending, world languages, some votech positions where there is demand. I and the board have been accused by some of listening too much to the so-called “no” side. It’s hard to please everyone! But the tax bills are already out, and I don’t believe we have much leeway to go beyond what revenues are being raised.
Thanks, Woodsman. I hope the China program is a revenue generator – that’s why it’s being done. These budget battles have pushed us to think more about how to get new revenue. As for the other issues – I guarantee that as we think about next year’s budget they will be investigated!
Donald – state money does come from taxes, but given the demographics of Maine most of that money comes from wealthier parts of the state – places where they can easily afford top of the line education, unlike us. . Moreover, many of those costs are mandated by the state, so they have to be paid anyway (especially special ed). If we get reimbursed, that helps property tax payers in the district. Finally, the state will probably spend all its tax money anyway. If it doesn’t come to us, they’ll spend it on something else. Governments are predictable in that way.
Scott, so are school boards predictable that way also.
I’ve heard the statistic regarding costs per student come up from time to time in this discussion. Such statistics should be suspect. There are at least two different conditions that effect them. School spending per student can be determined based on budget changes (1) up or down, or,(2) and importantly, changes in school enrollment. If a district has a decline and the budget doesn’t change, the cost per student increases. That looks good to some. If the enrollment increases without an increase in the budget it looks like the district is short changing the students. But these figures are changeable and deceptive. I’ve been told of school districts that have lost hundreds of enrollees and the budgets don’t change in the school districts around Brunswick. That means that the enrolment of those districts looks like they spend like it is going out of style. RSU9 is claimed to be short changing the students. Suspect statistics.
maybe its time to saying we dont use the district and as tax payers we dont want our taxes going to the district ,those who have kids in the schools and the ones who use the system can pay for ir and those of us that don’t use the system not pay for it .then things will change real fast !
Donald:
Understand Mr. Erb is just repeating what Mr. Ward stated on channel 8 news. No one has been laid off, and the district continues to hire people and spend money after it was announced there was a spending freeze. Mr. Erb speaks about being frugal. The more you make, then the term FRUGAL becomes more expensive. If you make less money, FRUGAL means less money to spend. So who is telling us the whole story? Bottom line is, the board and administration feel people in the RSU 9 district will not catch on to this next budget is the same one presented, and cut at the last meeting. Where is the compromise that was so heart jerking from a board member at the last meeting? I am not an expert on anything, but I am smart enough to see through what is happening in RSU 9.
Bill – our low cost to student ratio has been consistent. It is real. It is THE BEST comparative measure, your attempt to claim it is “suspect” is totally without merit, even with the strange dodge and weave dance you make trying to make up excuses to ignore it. That is a really lame effort to deny reality.
We have asked for less tax money – $545,000 less – in the last two years. We have cut programs, and have not funded some really deserving new ones as a compromise to those who want to make sure we don’t raise taxes.
Cwarren – your post makes a lot of innuendo and accusations, but has nothing real. It does not counter any of the facts given. It just posits some kind of conspiracy theory with no basis. You also seem to be in complete denial that the increases this year were almost all mandated, and we got reimbursed for them so that property taxes aren’t hit.
I really want us to all work together to assure the best result – protecting the community tax payers while having quality education. But to do that, we have to accept that there are facts that we can work from, and not just posit that the other side is somehow doing something dark and sneaky and thus nothing they say can be trusted. That kind of approach makes real dialogue impossible. Ultimately, I think as a community it is better if we can talk with each other and not assume the other is somehow dishonest.
There’s nothing like a bus load of leaf peepers on a rainy Sunday morning to remind me just how special this community really is, they flock here for much more than leaves. This place is amazing and if I have to work an extra five hours a year to pay for new plow trucks, fire equipment, police, and great schools you won’t see me complaining, so be it!
@ samo: Not all people have the luxury of being able to work an extra five hours a year. An extra five this year, next year is an extra ten, the following year is an extra fifteen, and so on. WHERE does it end? To all of you people that can pay this ” little bit” of extra every year, please donate to the school so as to help with the people that CAN NOT pay the “little bit” of extra every year. Putting people out of their homes is NO way to solve the issue of a steadily climbing school budget.
Reduced tax request from RSU 9: Approximately 2 % lower request from our towns, paid by local property owners this year (School Budget 2017/2018). About 2 % lower.
Reduced tax request from our towns last year, and approved last year
(School Budget year 2016/2017) by about 2 %. About 2 % lower.
Funding request for our towns, and local property tax owners over the last two years: Down by about 4%, or the
this is down by about $ 545,000.
School population: up by 3.46% this year.
Our School Board is providing tax relief for most property owners, about 4 % over the last two years.
Pretty straight forward: Our school board is working hard to balance the needs of students, and the ability to pay of tax payers. Thank you Board!
Well said Donald!!
Donald, I’m sorry you are in such a rough situation and I truly hope you the best. If you don’t know, there are a few local non profit organizations in this community that can help you if you are really in need. As for the rest of your speculations, I would have to say that we must be rational and not let our imaginations and exaggerations lead our descriptions (Good advice about a lot of things in life). Working is not a luxury it’s a necessity but I just happen to love working! Paid or unpaid, I keep going even if I’m resting I still work with my hands. If you are loosing your home due to unpaid property taxes then I think there must be more to the story. FYI- Didn’t the local tax burden from the schools go down? The town and county spending has gone up which has raised our property taxes.
Sama,I am not describing myself, I am talking about others in this area (yes, some of us think of others, not just ourselves).
Okay, Donald. It seems you are just exaggerating to mislead and aggravate the public. I’m also thinking of others, about 2300+ underage people who will need the mental tools and support of our consolidated community schools to be successful future taxpayers.
So now Bus Tours are an indication that Farmington is a wonderful place?
I’m with Woodsman. I want my taxes to go to building roads, instead of educating kids. At least the buses would have less damage traveling over the local roads.
Do you know that the State of Virginia exempts 65 and older individuals from paying most real estate taxes? At least that what I was told.
I hope you give the school board some credit Donald – the school population is up over 3%, we have over half a million in mandatory special education funding that we can’t reject, and yet we still have requested $545,000 less from tax payers in the last two years. I would think that would be noticed and appreciated. I also think, back to the point of the letter, the CCSE can say their pressure is part of what led to this positive result for taxpayers. I would think this is a win-win, rather than a “they won” situation.
That last comment should read “over half a million in NEW mandatory special ed funding…” The total amount is more.
The new Annual Budget Meeting vote hasn’t even happened. Nor has this gone to referendum. No one has won anything.
Also, what an extremely negative approach Nancy. You’ve seen no financial impact to your taxes but you still insist on the schools cutting programs or staff. That just seems spiteful.
Now, with the notion that this new budget may pass, you have chosen to segregate yourself from your community with an Us vs Them mentality. You even go so far as to announce your logic to the entire world via a misguided, self gratifying letter to the editor. Furthermore, you’ve already started to try to incite community members for next years budget. Which, might I add, hasn’t even been drafted.
Try not villainizing everyone around you for once. You might realize people aren’t so bad and no one is trying to harm you. The school isn’t trying to bankrupt you. Which is evident in your tax valuation not changing due to schools. Those working at the school, in the administration, and on the board, do not wish harm upon you. All of those people are just trying to build a better school district and community. No one is after you. Take a deep breath and maybe consider re-evaluating the situation.
Reality,
Your comments about Nancy are not called for, it just shows the “bullying” from the “thems” that continues so stop bullying her.
Professor ERB, you missed my point concerning statistics and your use of them.
Disgusted,
Which comment do you believe is bullying?
The commentary formed above is my opinion based off of her publicized letter to the editor, as are all the rest of the comments in this response section. Typically there are comments in favor and those that disagree with what is written. My comments were an evaluation of what she wrote in her letter.
No more words for this nonsense. And like that the adults are out of here. . . *Mic drop* … Good luck!
Reality and the rest of you anonymous commenter please let us know who you are with your actual names. It is easy to hide behind pseudonyms. If you are serious let us know who you are. Are you RSU9 board members, RSU9 employees, ;political activists, etc. Your comments would have more force if you were more honest..
Nancy has a heartfelt concern for our community. She does a lot of research and is knowledgeable. The term “bully” and “bullying” is right up there with the usual put down slaps like “homophobe,” “racist,” “fascist,” “Nazi,” etc. The fact is that the use of the term “bullying” is itself bullying.
Bill Reid-
My responses are directed at commentary made by yourself, Nancy, and others. I debate issues. I have no intention on attacking the individual. Therefore, I do not see the logic in bringing in my personal identity, nor do I ask anyone else to use theirs. I sincerely wish everyone used this mentality.
Furthermore, I did not accuse anyone of bullying. I asked for clarification when someone else used that term. Please re-read the commentary up until now.
I rejected your claim about statistics, Bill. It is false, and unsupported by any evidence. Note that this statistic is consistent, and has not fluctuated with different enrollments compared to others. I’m asking you to simply accept reality – we are a frugal district compared to others, according to the best statistic available!
So if someone is a bully, it’s bullying to call out the bully? Orwell, here we come! Oh what a tangled web one weaves….
Dr. Erb, If RSU 9 was frugal they would not start the budget process every year by simply adding to the existing budget. A frugal manager would build the budget from the ground up, reviewing and evaluating operations and expenditures to determine if they are worth their cost and whether they should be continued. That is one thing that is wrong at RSU 9. The superintendent has stated more than once that he starts the budget every year by adding the money to cover a 2% raise for everyone and then adds on from there. (And the school Board goes along with this!) So, with that process, spending has no way to go except UP every year at RSU 9. Yet, that does not appear to be the process at other school districts! Some budgets of nearby districts even went down, and yet they survived! And regarding cost-per-student (before you bring it up again)….considering the economics and limited tax base in this area, exactly what ranking on the list (of public schools) for RSU 9 would school officials consider acceptable???? Clearly, since it is constantly being brought up, we should all be ashamed of being 187th. Yet, several other RSU’s (about that same size as RSU 9) in areas that seem to be more economically prosperous have lower cost-per-student than RSU 9’s $9616. RSU 11 is at $9127 (Gardiner, West Gardiner, neighboring towns); RSU 79 is $9,462 (Presque Isle and neighboring towns); and RSU 19 is at $8,383 (Newport and neighboring towns) ; RSU 17 is $8470 (Oxford Hills Schools). Those folks must really feel mortified. (Data source: DOE website 2015-16 (latest available).
Lindy-
That is completely inaccurate about how the RSU 9 budget is formed. Please watch the first videos of the DOZENS of school board budget meetings. You can find those here: https://livestream.com/FTCDigitalMedia
In it you will watch the school board go through the line item budget, line by line. They go through it not once, not twice, but multiple times.
As far as the low ranking of the school for cost, I believe the point was being made that RSU 9 is considered frugal and not the spendthrift that opponents may elude to.
I don’t use my name in discussions like this ever since I read a “we can find out where you live” post on one …
In Mrs Porter’s 3rd paragraph she describes us, I do not see any RSU employees listed that live in the district, they pay taxes tand support the school also. This is not a fair statement to any worker.
So well stated Lindy !!!!! Well researched. !!!
Lindy: Please remember, the state does support our economically hurting area more than areas in the state doing better. This partial equalization of resources is supposed to help us compete with wealthier districts, not shrink our resources further . Should we make sure we have the least possible resources to support our schools? Is that what you desire? Not for my kids, please!
Reality….The way I have stated is exactly how the RSU 9 budget is created. I have attended many, many budget meetings (apparently you have not). After the superintendent adds the wages and benefit increases and certain other expenditures to the present budget, he then turns the budget over to the Board for their review. Back in January this year when he gave the budget to the Board, the budget showed an increase of $818+K. But along with that, he gave them a list of “Budget Needs Not Included in Proposed Budget” and left it up to them as to whether to add those items to the budget. How is the Board qualified to do that? Why didn’t the superintendent add those items to the budget if they were needed????? He and the department heads are the ones qualified to do that, not the Board. All the Board has to go by is what the Superintendent tells them. And, with him saying that these items are needed, of course they felt duty bound to add most of them to the budget. With that, the total was raised to show the $1.15 million increase we saw in the first budget we voted on this year. One can only guess as to the reasons behind RSU9’s budgeting process and why the Board isn’t questioning it.
This is one big nightmare! What do some of you people think, that taxpayers just dreamed up the fact that the school was spending too much? That their tax increase each year was due to some other reason than the school? That more than half of each town’s taxes goes to the school? Somewhere out there is a person who can operate this school district each year without a million dollar increase! Other school districts in Maine have found them, this one could if it looked and advertised for one! Some board replacements wouldn’t hurt the cause either! AND very possibly along with that change of leaders might come better education for the kids!
To YES….The State does pay this district more because of the economics in this area. So because of that, RSU 9 should spend more to bring up the cost-per-student so we are comparable to who? What cost-per-student is acceptable? The problem is when any of the State money gets cut back, it falls on local taxpayers to make up the difference. This is why spending needs to slow down at RSU 9. A million dollar a year increase is unrealistic for this area. Remember when LePage cut back on education funding? Consequently, property taxes went up. Similar things can happen whenever there is a change in Augusta government. Nobody knows what the future holds. Yet, despite those State cutbacks, RSU 9 school officials did not slow down spending. And then, when we had to start paying in towards the new high school debt which to start, cost local taxpayers almost an extra million dollars a year, they still didn’t slow down spending. That is the problem. This superintendent has had no regard for those significant changes and the additional burden on local taxpayers, which remain today. Instead, he has insisted on spending as usual while aspiring to be like the big districts.
Great point you raise Lindy, I am glad you made it….what cost per student should we be at?
Certainly below the average cost per student (we are well below the average) With inflation increasing at 2.1 % and the school population up by 3.6%, what should we do?
With those numbers, and the proposed budget for next year our cost per student will go down. Is dropping lower OK with taxpayers? How much lower should we be than the surrounding districts? What do you think?
This budget: reducing local taxes, and the cost per student going down…as I say, not yes for the Board approved budget.
Spell check…vote yes for the Board proposed budget…reduced local taxes, possibly a reduced cost for student, vote yes!
To Yes…That is a question for you and school officials. What cost-per-student amount is acceptable? I think it is a fair question but I don’t expect an answer because then they would be putting a limit on things. My thoughts on cost-per-student is that where we fall on the list compared to other schools has no significance. For one thing, if you look at the data, the more students in a school, the lower the cost per student. Also, certain things are factored out. One thing that is factored out but RSU 9 local taxpayers are paying, is debt. Locally we have been paying close to a million dollars per year towards the debt…that is not counted in the cost-per-student. So it is unfair and a cheap shot for officials to continue to use it to try to shame the community into supporting their budget. The real question should be is the cost-per-student reasonable considering the area’s income levels and economics. And, who cares what other districts do. Our school officials should be paying attention to RSU9. I wish we had a superintendent who would roll up his sleeves, rally his employees, and dig in to provide the best education with the money that is available. Instead they ask for more and more money while they look over the fence at greener pastures.
Lindy: I am sorry you do not know our school officials very well. They are on 24/7, 365 days.
Look at the service increases for special education to see where about half of the increases over the last three years has gone: Directly to support students who need the most support.
Look to the voters of RSU 9 who strongly approved the building projects, several times with each project.
Good luck, stay healthy, and support our community and our schools! Vote yes for a 2% drop in local taxes.