The SAD 48 “taxpayer group” referred to in a Dec. 17 article started attacking the 2003-04 budget by saying it was too big; taxes would go up 14 percent across the district. They convinced people to vote “no” or taxes would be high and senior citizens would lose their homes to high taxes. Tax bills are out and there are no 14 percent increases due to the school budget. So, that fable is over.

Time for a new one. Lack of fiscal responsibility. Some budget lines are underspent while others are overspent. A budget is a spending plan developed months before the budget year begins and 15 to 16 months before it ends. Things happen. Things change. Sometimes emergencies arise. We need to adapt. As circumstances change, the budget is adjusted to meet the current needs.

The alternative is to direct the board to spend every cent on every line whether they need to or not. Is that what we want? The board and the superintendent should be praised for being flexible and not having to ask for more money during the year.

Efrain Rojas

Newport