Times are hard. Many of you don’t know how you’ll pay your day-to-day bills, let alone next year’s taxes. In view of this, wouldn’t you think that the Board of Directors of SAD 53 would jump at the chance to cut taxes instead of facing a possible cut in the budget on June 2?

“Surplus” money made it possible for a tax break in the district last year. And there is one more chance for taxpayers to benefit (this year only) if the board would just think about it.

Paying the teachers year-round would free up the money, but apparently it is not an option the superintendent can “sell his people.”

However, there is still another option that could be explored. We did raise $350,000 last May so that funds would be there to pay the teachers in June for the summer months. What if we were to cut our local leeway (extra money we raise over and above what the state requires) by that amount and borrow an equal amount for two months to pay the teachers as we have been.

The cost: $400,000 for two months at 9 percent interest would cost $6,000 in interest money.

If you think about it, which would you, as a taxpayer, rather see raised in local leeway — an added $6,000 to cover two months’ interest cost, or an added $350,000 to sit in the bank 10 and 11 months of the year? Barbara Jones Pittsfield