I have to question the rather sanguine prediction made by letter writer Mike Fink of Portland (“Question 2 will support teaching common sense, work ethic,” Oct. 5).

According to Fink, passage of Question 2, which would apply a surcharge on those earning more than $200,000, “will provide public schools and educators with the funds necessary to ensure we continue to produce individuals who go on and do great things in the world.” Not necessarily so.

Consider Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap’s Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election. On Page 34, we find this statement by the state Office of Fiscal and Program Review:

“It should also be noted that while the intent of this initiative is to provide additional funding to local schools over and above what would be provided without this initiative (baseline funding), no mechanism is provided to prevent future legislators from reducing baseline funding by an amount equal to a portion of future estimates of the additional funding provided by the surcharge.”

In other words, if Question 2 passes, the amount of money provided by the state may remain constant, with only the source of that money changing. Such a change would be unlikely “to ensure we continue to produce individuals who go on and do great things in the world.”

William Vaughan Jr.

Chebeague Island

Copy the Story Link