On Tuesday, Scarborough voters will again try to approve a school budget for the coming school year.

The first budget lost by a margin of 1,719 to 1,408. In an advisory question, 1,761 thought it too high, 617 thought it too low and 709 found it acceptable.

The revised budget – $38.6 million, or $500,000 less than the original – still represents a 6.8 percent increase in taxpayer funding over last year, at a time when inflation is negligible.

Nobody seems happy with the revised budget. Many believe it is still too high, citing spending increases of more than four times the inflation rate over the past five years. Others consider it too low to meet student needs. Both sides will vote “no,” virtually ensuring its defeat.

Recently, a new element has inflamed the already intense debate.

As part of the Town Council-mandated budget reduction, the School Board accepted the school administration’s recommendation to slash $180,000 from extracurricular activities – eliminating, among many other activities, all eighth-grade sports, Key Club, chorus, band, fall cheerleading, winter wrestling and spring tennis.

Regrettably, this decision was taken without serious review of vast swaths of the budget to determine if less painful reductions could be found.

Why did the school administration focus on extracurricular activities from the start? Why didn’t the School Board require meaningful consideration of other reduction alternatives? It was, simply stated, a budget gaming technique designed to maximize public angst and outcry. And it worked.

This outrageous budget gaming provides another solid reason to vote “No – Too High” on Tuesday.

Those responsible for our schools let the kids down. It is unfortunate that one of the advisory categories on the ballot isn’t “Too Cynical” – that would be the most accurate one to select. In its absence, “No” and “Too High” are the best choices.

Steve Hanly

Scarborough

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