Thanks to Ted Sirois for weighing-in on Jay’s school budget issues (Nov. 21). Even though his assessment of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights initiative’s impact upon schools is inaccurate, it is comforting to know a resident of Wilton is so interested in what’s going on in Jay.

If Sirois were a resident here, he would know our property tax revaluation had a monumental impact on many citizens. When one’s household income exceeds $100,000, the ability to absorb such increases is substantially easier than one living on a lower, or fixed, income. When one’s household income is derived nearly exclusively from tax dollars, there is a tendency to be less upset by large tax increases.

The Jay School Committee has an obligation to provide a quality education to its students, and we will continue to aspire to do that. We are also obligated to justify why we must ask for $1.7 million local dollars – due to exceeding the essential program and services funding formula – and why we annually spend $2,000 more per student than the statewide average.

Mr. Sirois may believe asking administration to examine spending priorities is the ruination of our schools. I don’t. We are, and will continue, to share services with Livermore Falls. Suggesting the only way to economize is to eliminate teachers, classes and extracurricular activities is shortsighted. Jay’s taxpayers have been very generous to our public schools over the years, and we will reciprocate by being financially diligent in the days ahead.

Clint Brooks, Jay, chairman, Jay School Committee