AUBURN – A standing-room-only crowd of parents and teachers delivered a message to the Auburn School Committee: Don’t carry out the proposed cuts in the school budget; raise our taxes instead.

The reaction was to proposed cuts outlined Tuesday night by Superintendent Tom Morrill. Saying taxpayers need relief, the Auburn City Council cut education spending by $475,000. Combined with higher salary, benefit and fuel costs, that cut contributed to a $1.7 million gap to continue existing staffing and programs, Morrill said.

To balance the budget Morrill proposed eliminating 29 positions, which would include 21 layoffs of 13 teachers, several administrators, plus other staff in schools. Cuts would also eliminate the land lab, reduce services to students such as substance abuse and counseling.

Former Auburn City Councilor Ellen Peters, who has several children in Auburn schools, said she understands the School Committee does not have control of how much it has to spend.

“The bottom line is this: The City Council has not provided enough funding for the schools to serve students next year,” Peters said. Budgeting has everything to do with what a community values. “The City Council has dealt the citizens of Auburn a lousy hand.”

As it did for most, the audience applauded Peters’ comments, giving the meeting a kind of rally atmosphere. Often criticism was directed at Councilor Ron Potvin, the mayor’s representative on the School Committee, who has advocated for taxpayer relief.

“Every morning I’ve been having imaginary arguments with Ron Potvin over the breakfast table, so it’s such a pleasure to be able to say these things in person,” said parent Melissa Sundell.

Sundell said she’s appalled at the council’s cut. “I pay $1,800 a year in taxes and I get my money’s worth.” Her values do not include slashing and burning the school system, she said.

“You refer to it as a Cadillac, we’re driving a 10-year-old Taurus here. And you’re saying we’re too miserly to pay for oil changes,” Sundell said. “I’m a taxpayer. I’m your constituent. You can’t say anymore the taxpayers won’t support” higher taxes for education. Sundell said it’s time for taxpayers who support the school system to speak up.

John LaPerriere, a parent and teacher, said when he retired from the Marines in 2006 he moved to Auburn for the school system. “I pay $4,000 a year in taxes. I have no problem paying $4,500 in taxes. … I’ll pay whatever I have to pay to provide my children with hope.”

Susan Gaylord, a former School Committee member, said the proposed cuts are too drastic. “Mr. Potvin I do not agree with the cuts you are recommending.” Gaylord said money that comes to the city from the federal and state government earmarked for education earns interest that is not passed on to the school. “I would like to know if it is going to be given to the school, if not, why not?”

After listening to criticism from teachers and parents, Potvin explained the point of a state law, LD 1, was for the state to spend millions more on education, allowing communities to provide tax relief. But many communities have not provided tax relief.

In the last three years, Lewiston has returned $2 million of their extra state dollars to taxpayers in the spirit of the law. “So far in the last three years, this school department has returned $200,000,” Potvin said. This year Auburn is receiving $379,328 more in education dollars from the state. The council’s $475,000 cut was an attempt at tax relief, Potvin said.

Substitute teacher Deborah Cote said Auburn’s children don’t deserve the cuts. “I am a parent and a taxpayer. I will pay an increase happily with the blessing of my husband, and my neighbors who I have spoken with.”

Removing an assistant principal from the high school, and a dean from the middle school, are not options, Cote said. With fewer administrators behavior problems will grow and safety would be impaired. “You’ll have hidden corners, you’ll have problems.”

Dave Burke said the City Council cut seemed “to be pulled out of the sky. It’s ridiculous.”

Morrill said Tuesday that the cuts would save the owner of a $180,000 home $41 a year in taxes. “What’s that?” Burke said. “It’s nothing. It’s a night at the Maineiacs. … I suggest you submit to the council what you need for money to educate our students. We’ll be there to back you.”

Michael Breton, the father of two Fairview students, said if he and his wife knew any additional taxes would go to the school system, “we would gladly pay them. The cutting of staff, increasing the size of classrooms, is unacceptable,” he said. “Go back to the City Council with a counteroffer.”

Potvin responded to the one-sided succession of opinions that continued to 9:30 p.m. The council may be willing to take another look at its action, he said, but he cautioned there are other taxpayers “patting us on the back” for the cuts.

“Where are they tonight?” someone in the audience asked.