OXFORD – Oxford Hills school district directors have not taken a position on the Taxpayer Bills of Rights. Superintendent Mark Eastman said they probably won’t, either, unless the board decides otherwise.

Eastman expressed concerns with the TABOR initiative at Monday night’s school board meeting. His remarks were met with little discussion from the board.

“The language is very complex and very cumbersome,” Eastman said.

In the past 10 years, had the district been under TABOR, it would be operating with $6.5 million less, Eastman said, citing calculations by the Maine Municipal Association.

“We are already below budget,” Eastman said, saying that TABOR would cause significant reductions in programming and staffing. “I shudder to think what that would be.”

It would be more difficult for the school board to pass budget referendums. Under TABOR, a two-thirds vote would be needed for additional spending above the limits.

“We’ve never had a two-thirds vote,” Eastman said.

“The rigid and restrictive nature of the TABOR limitations will make it impossible for us to continue programming at the same level as we are now,” Eastman said in a statement which was handed to directors. “This approach completely takes away local control. Although there is significant need for tax reform in our state, my research indicates that this initiative would require significant amendments to make it workable for our students, schools and communities.”