Mainers voted for Question 1 on June 8 in hopes of reducing their property taxes. This bill requires the state of Maine to pay 55 percent of education costs. The state doesn’t have $250 million to fund this bill. Where will this money come from?

The state of Maine will start by setting the state average cost per student. This would fund all schools the same, paying 55 percent of the per student cost. The school departments with extra frills and spending habits would have to cut their expenses. If not, these expenses would be passed on to the local taxpayer with no savings on their property taxes.

One good example of this extravagant spending is the laptop computer program. Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron is in full support of this program with no money. This puts the cost burden on the local taxpayers. Some school districts with irresponsible board members have approved spending $300-plus each for additional laptop computers. SAD 43 is one of these school districts with extra monies to fund their spending programs, at the taxpayers’ expense. The state of Maine, through the 55 percent reimbursement funding, will not pay for any nonessential education program.

There are many towns sending 70 percent or more of their tax dollars to local schools, leaving few dollars for other municipal expenses. The Palesky tax cap, if passed, will hurt the underfunded municipal programs and maybe wake up some school districts.

Richard A. McInnis, Rumford