On June 8, voters will have the opportunity to approve Question 1, the School Finance and Tax Reform Act. This is the only responsible option currently available for property tax reform, since the Legislature was unable to enact meaningful reform in the session just ended.

Question 1 will force the Legislature to keep its promise to fund 55 percent of education costs statewide, develop a tax burden management plan, and support sensible regionalization efforts. Question 1 takes a “revenue neutral” approach to tax burden management, distributing the burden more fairly between sales, income and property taxes.

Question 1 is a solid starting point for property tax reform. If passed, it will present the Legislature an opportunity to achieve a responsible “ramping up” to the 55 percent share based upon the Essential Programs and Services Model, which provides a reasonable benchmark for the cost of education. Passage of Question 1 will increase state funding for local education by approximately $260 million per year, a 15 percent reduction in property taxes statewide.

Question 1 is a responsible alternative to the drastic, ill-conceived 1 percent tax cap that will appear on the ballot for the general election in November. The proposed tax cap would destroy the ability of many towns and cities to provide municipal services and would eliminate local control.

A vote in favor of Question 1 is a vote in favor of rational property tax reform.

Mary W. Wright, chairman

Stephan M. Bunker, selectman

Mark A. Cayer, selectman

Board of Selectmen,

Farmington