As the superintendent of schools for a small rural district, the referendum on school funding on Nov. 4 is especially critical.
If voters pass Question 1A., SAD 39 will receive $420,000 in additional funding. This is money that the local taxpayer won’t have to pay out of their property taxes.
Critics of 1A have claimed that the money will have to come from somewhere, and it won’t make any difference to the average citizen. That is simply not true.
Many, many people in the three towns that I represent are retired citizens on small fixed incomes. Their tax dollars increase every year as a result of our schools. 1A will shift this burden to the general revenue, which is fed mostly by income and business taxes.
Our schools are doing a great job. They are faced with mounting pressures to deliver more and more with limited dollars to spend. Our district has already faced having to cut staff, and it is high time that the state of Maine pay its fair share.
I support referendum 1A and hope the taxpayers in this great state see the value in fully funding their schools.
William C. Shuttleworth,
superintendent, SAD 39, Buckfield, Hartford
and Sumner
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