As employees of the University of Southern Maine and union leaders representing the faculty and staff who work there, we are constantly in awe of both our students and our colleagues. We are blessed to work with a tremendous group of people who carry expertise in a wide array of areas and share a collective commitment to the work we do. None of us are in it for the money. Indeed, we all could be making more at another institution or in another line of work. We do it for the students, who are equally dedicated, often juggling their studies with family responsibilities and long hours at their jobs outside of school.

We pride ourselves on providing students with an excellent education for a fraction of the cost they would pay at a private institution or even a public university in many other states. However, we worry that we won’t be able to provide that same high-quality education for long if the current funding model continues.

For decades, the state has effectively been cutting the budget for the University of Maine System, as appropriations from the Legislature have fallen far behind the pace of inflation. We have deferred maintenance on buildings (a total of $1.6 billion throughout the system) and put off upgrades to classrooms, labs and dormitories. Employees have sacrificed, with staff members doing the work of two or three people and faculty taking on larger advising loads and class sizes as our co-workers leave or retire without being replaced.

We are running out of creative solutions, and any further cuts will come at the expense of our students, as they face limited access to essential course sections. This will lead to delays in graduation and increased personal costs, along with overcrowded classrooms and less attention from faculty and staff.

For years we have done more with less. Now it’s time for the state to do its part — not just for our sake, but for the long-term health of the state as a whole.

While the personal benefits of higher education are well documented, its broader social and economic impact is often underestimated. A highly educated workforce is the engine of economic growth, driving productivity, reducing poverty and improving health outcomes. As the cost of private higher education rises, governments need to invest in public education in order to enable us to take full advantage of these social and economic benefits.

Unfortunately, Maine has been underinvesting in its future for years. On average, state governments throughout the rest of our region spend roughly $2,000 more per student per year than we do at comparable institutions. As a result, only 36% of Mainers hold a bachelor’s degree — the lowest rate in New England (trailing New Hampshire by 5 percentage points and Massachusetts by 15, e.g.). This disparity puts Maine at a serious competitive disadvantage as we struggle to attract and retain businesses that require an educated workforce, and young workers seeking such opportunities have to move out of state. This underinvestment not only disadvantages current students but also jeopardizes Maine’s future workforce and long-term prosperity.

The current trend of cutting funding for our public universities is particularly frustrating because it costs the state money in the long run. Even ignoring the broader social and economic benefits, public higher education is an investment that more than pays for itself. On average, those with bachelor’s degrees pay roughly $500,000 more in lifetime taxes and receive $85,000 less from government social programs. By underinvesting in education today, we are not only restricting a key engine of economic growth, we are creating more significant budget problems for the future.

It’s time for Maine to invest in its future. Ensuring that our students have the opportunity to graduate with the skills and degrees they need to succeed and build their careers here in Maine will benefit not only them but everyone in the state. The more we invest in public higher education today, the stronger our economy and communities will be in the future.