In the Sun Journal, May 29, “According to statistics provided by school administration, if the proposed budget for (RSU 10) is passed as presented, the following school tax increases would be assessed on a home valued at $100,000: Buckfield, $88.22; Byron, $107.15; Canton, $15.37; Carthage, $101.11; Dixfield, $67.80; Hanover, $111.27; Hartford, $61.33; Mexico, $99.52; Peru, $20.83; Roxbury, $89.91; Rumford, $61.15; and Sumner, $24.77.”

I believe the figures, printed on multiple occasions, are at best misleading. The actual increases to taxpayers are far greater than what has been reported.

I verified with Buckfield, Dixfield and Sumner what the proposed Regional School Unit 10 budget would do to the mill rates in those towns.

The actual increases to taxpayers that I verified with each town (for the RSU 10 portion only of property taxes, based on a $100,000 property valuation) are:

• Buckfield: school district claims $88.22 increase, town says it will be $156.30;

• Dixfield: school district claims $67.80 increase, town says $150, plus or minus;

• Sumner: school district claims $24.77, town says $153.

Voters should disregard this propaganda, which was distributed to the media by school district administration, as just that — propaganda.

People need to call their local town offices and ask what the real effect on their taxes would be if the school budget passes as proposed.

People need to make sure they have the facts before deciding whether they are willing to vote yes or no on the budget at the polls on Tuesday.

David Dean, Buckfield

Editor’s note: According to RSU 10, the estimated tax increases do not include carryover funds for each town and are estimates only. The district and its sending towns use different formulas to factor tax increases, and school officials urge people who want to know the precise school-tax impact on their homes to contact their town offices.

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