The mayor’s call for the school district to hold down taxes is hypocritical. The municipal budget increase last year was 9% while he held the school district to 4% when inflation was 8% in 2022. The schools have seen cuts for many years. There was an 18% decline in educators between 2017 and 2021, yet only 5% fewer students, according to the Maine Department of Education. They are doing more with less. Educators have only received a negotiated average 2% contract increase annually for the past three years, which doesn’t nearly keep up with the cost of living increases.
I pay taxes in Windham as well, where the school portion of the mill rate is twice as much as the municipal share. In Westbrook, the municipal budget is 42% of the mill rate compared with Windham’s 32%. If the mayor really wants to hold down taxpayer rates, he needs to reduce the municipal budget and require new development to contribute to school building costs through impact fees.
Currently over $4 million annually, or 10% of the school budget, is debt service to accommodate our growing population. There are many good things happening in Westbrook and the growth in population and tax base is an opportunity to invest in our schools. Westbrook does not need another new vehicle at the expense of our children’s education.
Flynn Ross
Westbrook
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