The Regional School Unit 2 budget this year is said to increase 3.12%, yet looking at the increases for the five towns in the district: Dresden’s increase is 8.8%, Farmingdale 9%, Hallowell 7%, Monmouth 9.5%, and Richmond 7.4%. That is an average of 8.3%. I suppose somehow this can be translated into a 3.12% increase, but it certainly is not for what the five towns will need to provide from their taxpayers (“Monmouth officials, other towns rally against proposed increase in Regional School Unit 2 budget,” April 22).

The chairman of the RSU 2 board is quoted as saying it is the board’s responsibility to fund the operation of the schools and that is all. I know that when the Monmouth Select Board prepares the town budget, we are concerned with the effect increases will have on our taxpayers, and all department heads are told to keep any increases at a minimum.

There are many RSU expenditures that have nothing to do with providing our students with the best possible education. If these expenditures were examined, most reasonable people would probably see them as only remotely affecting our kids’ education. COVID relief funds should be spent in ways that directly benefit our students, not for lights for Hall-Dale’s athletic field or funding for vehicles for custodians who are also in the administration budget as assistant building and grounds people.

RSU 2 has created a situation in which their budget will likely be defeated in June, and they may then be forced to take measures which will negatively affect the education they provide students.

 

Douglas Ludewig

Monmouth

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