I would like to suggest that all regional planning committees working on school consolidation cease operations until it is known whether or not the plans have the support of a majority of Maine citizens.

This, of course, is heresy and is probably illegal. RPC members have essentially been commanded, “Thou shalt not speak negatively about school consolidation.”

However, it is simply terribly unwise to continue to work on a project that very likely will be voted down by most communities. Maine citizens traditionally want local control, don’t like being told what to do, and they don’t like being told that if they don’t do it, their property taxes will be increased and their children’s education will be penalized.

Thousands of hours have been expended trying to meet the demands of LD 499 (the school consolidation law), with thousands more hours needed to complete a plan, that will, for many years, show no tax savings, and no improvement in educational opportunities, if ever. It is likely that putting the plan in operation will raise property taxes in many towns, even if LD 1932 passes.

What the state government could do, to gain citizen support, is to try consolidation in a few communities. If this proved there could be tax savings and improvements in education, voters would more likely accept it.

We need to know if Mainers will support school consolidation before continuing with work which ultimately could prove fruitless.

Douglas Ludewig, Monmouth