SAD 22 board resolution opposes TABOR

HAMPDEN – The SAD 22 board of directors, concerned that a proposed tax cap measure would hurt local schools, has unanimously approved a resolution opposing the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

The board said this week that TABOR, as it is called, could jeopardize the Hampden Academy construction project, extend the district’s budget approval method, and give control over school budgets to a minority of voters, among other things.

TABOR, which will be considered by voters in the Nov. 7 referendum, aims to curb tax increases by limiting school spending to the rate of inflation plus enrollment growth. School systems could exceed the limits if two-thirds of voters agree.

SAD 22 representatives expanded on some of the arguments against TABOR Thursday.

They said that the Consumer Price Index is not an accurate measurement of a school system’s expenditures. That’s because the products purchased by schools – such as health insurance, fuel and construction materials – are more expensive than those associated with the Consumer Price Index – such as clothing, food, cars and homes.

“The Consumer Price Index won’t be adequate to cover all the services we currently provide,” said Tim Pease, chairman of the SAD 22 board.

TABOR would extend the district’s budget approval method by about 75 days and make it more costly because it calls for numerous referendums to override the spending limit, district representatives said. Each referendum costs $5,000-$8,000.

The tax cap measure would add “a whole other layer of bureaucracy,” said Chris Cox, chairman of the board’s budget subcommittee.

Because TABOR requires that spending increases be approved by two-thirds of voters rather than a simple majority, the decision-making power is left to a small minority, while local control by the majority is taken away, officials said.

“You could have 65 percent of people in three towns voting in favor of the school budget, yet it could be defeated by only 35 percent,” said Pease, noting that obtaining approval for virtually any type of action could be next to impossible.

Even in SAD 22, where school enrollment is stable, TABOR would have meant cutting $2.54 million from the current budget. “No sports, no building maintenance, no textbooks and two schools being closed – that’s what that equates to,” said Assistant Superintendent Emil Genest.

TABOR could delay or prevent the pending high school construction project, officials said. Since the district would receive a large infusion of state money to pay for the project, the budget would be extended over the TABOR limit, thus requiring the two-thirds voter approval.

Also, TABOR’s limitations could inhibit the Maine Municipal Bond Bank’s borrowing capacity, which could affect the amount of money that is available for school construction projects.

“We are on the threshold of a life-changing event with the new high school,” said Superintendent Rick Lyons. “And to see that potentially washed away is pretty scary.”