For the third time in six months, the residents of Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland will be voting on a referendum to approve the school budget for Regional School Unit 16.

The vote is scheduled for Sept. 13 and absentee ballots are available. I hope that fellow residents of these towns will join me in voting “yes.”

The budget has been trimmed twice and tax burdens have been lessened. If the budget that now stands before us is approved, there would be no tax increase in Mechanic Falls, about a $9 per mill increase in Poland and about a $35 per mill increase in Minot.

This has not been an easy process, and we’ve heard many passionate opinions from many viewpoints along the way. As moderator of the three district budget meetings, I have heard an increased tone of civility from each meeting to the next; witnessed a deeper understanding of the challenges of putting together a complex budget; and seen recognition that the educational needs of our students must be met in ways that local citizens can afford.

While some remain unconvinced, I truly believe the majority of voters see this budget as reasonable and appropriate. Good people have come together, listened to one another and developed a solution. It may not be a perfect solution, but it is a good solution.

Colleen Quint, Minot