AUBURN – School backers were out in force Monday night, lining up to defend Auburn’s education department from cuts.

More than 120 came to the Central Maine Community College’s Kirk Hall Gymnasium to weigh in on the proposed $65.8 million city budget.

More than 34 spoke over the next two hours, including teachers, parents, students and others.

“I am a citizen, I do not belong to the educational system or city government and I would to go on record to say that I do not have a child in the Auburn school system,” said Rick Ness of 26 Cross St. “And I do not wish to see the budget cut. It sends the wrong message to our children and the wrong message to quality employers that we might have on behalf of the city.”

The issue for most was $1.7 million in cuts in the School Department’s budget, bringing it to $33.6 million. That includes a $475,223 cut in property taxes to the School Department.

To get there, school Superintendent Tom Morrill has proposed eliminating the science land lab, laying off 21 school employees and eliminating another eight jobs through attrition. The layoff list includes 13 teachers, several secretaries, library and education technicians.

Most elementary schools would lose one teacher, Fairview would lose two. The high school would lose an art teacher, an English teacher and two other teachers not yet identified. Also gone would be a counselor who helps students with substance abuse problems, a secretary and two education technicians. The middle school would lose three teachers, one secretary, a social worker and an education technician in the technical lab.

The majority at Monday’s hearing insisted those cuts were a mistake.

“Continue to insist on an insubstantial school budget and you show that you don’t care about education,” former City Councilor Ellen Peters said. “Provide us that evidence that you care about the people of this city, all of the people, and budget responsibly with an eye toward the future.”

Trisha Fletcher of 240 Fairway Drive drew a link between good schools and economic development. Out-of-state investors won’t invest in a place with poor schools. As a real estate agent, she sees that.

“Every day, I’m out selling ‘LA: It’s happening here’,” she said. “What are you selling? If it’s not happening here, it’s cutting our schools.”

A handful even called for higher property taxes.

“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” said David Chirayath of 28 Bellflower Dr. He said he moved here against the advice of friends and co-workers.

“Without fail, the vast majority said you want to be in Portland, Falmouth or Brunswick,” Chirayath said. “They told us to stay away from the L-A area, the schools are failing. And this only goes to prove it.”

Councilor Ray Berube said he was frustrated the councilors didn’t get the opportunity to respond to criticism. Mayor John Jenkins said he’d get that chance, at later City Council meetings.

“That’s why we have public hearings, to hear what the public has to say,” Jenkins said.

But there were voices calling for lower taxes. Marie Herrick, wife of City Councilor Dan Herrick, said she felt proposed salary increases in city and school departments were too high.

“I’m not against anything that benefits the youth of Auburn, but the fact remains that we are a part of a nation whose economy is hurting and the proper and civic position is to be conscious of what we can and cannot afford,” she said.

Brian Demers of 1085 Riverside Drive pointed out that Auburn’s school enrollment had decreased over the last few years.

“Yet the School Department budget has continued to increase,” he said. “I realize that there are many mandates passed down. But we have not seen cuts in the School Department to reflect that drop in enrollment.”

And Tim Doughty of 75 Cherry Vale Circle said property tax relief has been a top voter issue.

“Remember two years ago, we were all out in the streets protesting our taxes,” he said. “We were hoping that the property taxes would go down. Since then, I’ve had my taxes double. So I’d like to know what this council and the School Department will do for my taxes.”