It is absolutely unfathomable that Portland Public Schools’ finances are in such a serious state of disarray (“IRS fined Portland schools more than $1 million in past 4 years,” Feb. 10). And this has been going on for years? Where is the checks and balances system? How could this have gone on for so long without remedy? Why was the school board and superintendent not more actively involved in rectifying this sooner?
The staffing is woefully insufficient. “From July to December 2022, the payroll department had one full-time temporary manager and a part-time specialist,” the Press Herald reported. That’s it? For the entire Portland school system payroll department? How is that acceptable?
The largest single item on our property tax bill goes to the school budget. And they can’t manage the finances better than this. In the recent referendum, the school board was seeking full control over the school budget. Thankfully, Portland residents voted “no” on that.
This is unacceptable for a city that claims to have so much going for it.
Deborah Napier
Portland
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