I went to a recent SAD 43 budget meeting. I asked if the people who were employed by SAD 43 would raise their hands and was told by the moderator that I could not do that. Yes, I wanted to know if there was any chance of any of those articles being defeated, but I also wanted to tell those people how much I appreciate the very hard work they do educating our children.

My wife was employed in the school system for 22 years, and I have also served on the school board, so I am not against teachers or the school system.

What does upset me is when we have these meetings (town meetings, also) and I hear people complaining that we cannot afford all the articles that get passed.

On June 6, Rumford voters approved $7 million for town government and, on June 9, approved the proposed budget of almost $14 million for SAD 43, with about 100 people at each meeting.

So, I guess I have to be upset with myself and the other hundreds of people who do not get involved until after the fact on how voters proposed to spend $21 million.

J. Richard Shea, Rumford

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