LEWISTON – “Vote no” on the Tabor referendum was the message sent by the School Committee when it voted 7-1 Monday night to endorse a resolution that opposes the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

The committee has an obligation to educate the public on how public policy changes can effect education, according to Jim Handy, chairman. “We went through a real education process to understand the implications of the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights.”

A resolution to endorse or not to endorse TABOR was initially on the agenda three weeks ago but was tabled until the board had more information on how TABOR would impact the Lewiston school system. Over the past three weeks, committee members attended a joint presentation with Auburn School Committee, heard from the system’s lawyer, and went through their own education process to understand the implications of TABOR on local education before voting on a resolution Monday night.

Among the issues discussed was a determination that significant cuts in the school budget would have to be made to meet the requirements under TABOR.

If TABOR passes, the Lewiston school budget would fall below the state’s minimum required to be spent on education, but the school system would not qualify for additional state funding under the essential programs and services provided for in TABOR.

“It would require significant changes in the way we deliver education,” Handy said. “We can’t operate on a flat budget, so there will have to be cuts to programs and staff.”

The Lewiston School Committee has been “very judicious in how we spend money and what we spend,” Handy said, adding that it has held spending to a 3.5 percent increase each year. “We have a track record of being good money managers, and we already are careful with the taxpayers’ money,” Handy said.

Citing an immediate example of how the school system will be affected should TABOR pass, Handy said, “If TABOR was in effect we would have to go through the confusing and convoluted process of referendum to get the debt service (of two new elementary schools previously voted on) added to our budget,” hindering progress on the construction of the schools.