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Top Headlines

For Immediate Release
October 23, 2003

Contact:
Jean Gulliver
(207) 624-6616

Sue Bell
(207) 622-9671

Education Leaders Warn Voters Against 1A Tax Proposal

1B is best option for children and taxpayers, education funding experts say

AUGUSTA, Maine (October 23, 2003) - Education leaders, school funding experts and policymakers came out against Question 1A today, saying the initiative would hurt education for Maine children and overburden taxpayers throughout the state.

"Question 1B reforms the school funding formula in a fair and equitable way for students as well as tax payers," said Susan Gendron, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education. "The difficulty with Question 1A is that it does not define what in education should be funded. Reimbursing 100% of Special Education establishes a policy direction that will perpetuate high costs, direct funds from other programs and therefore will not address the needs of all students. On the other hand, Question 1B provides additional funds for education through a structured, well-planned approach known as Essential Programs and Services. Funds will come from the normal expected growth in state revenues and does not rely on taking funds from other vital state services."

Gendron was joined by a host of other leaders and experts in education and school funding, all unified in their belief that 1B is the best option for future funding of schools and for taxpayers. Thursday's public event at the Maine State House was intended to help voters understand the competing tax relief/education funding proposals on the November ballot.

Jean Gulliver, chair of the State Board of Education said, "The State Board of Education took the unusual step of endorsing a question on the November 4 ballot. Question 1B is by far the best option for the education of our children and for future school funding for the State of Maine. Members of the State Board of Education are unanimous and passionate in their support of Question 1B."

Weston Bonney, a member of the State Board of Education and leader of the Essential Programs and Services funding model, said: "Question 1B addresses the inequity that exists in per pupil spending under current law by tying educational funding to Essential Programs and Services on which the State Board has been working with the Legislature for over six years. This funding system will provide adequate resources for each student to meet the Learning Results standards. In addition, Question 1B limits the amount any community has to raise for education to a projected 8.55 mills with an absolute maximum of 10 mills. This rate is significantly lower than what most communities now raise for education, thereby providing significant property tax relief for those communities."

Bob Kautz, superintendent of the Sanford School Department and vice chair of the Coalition for Excellence in Education, said: "The coalition has been a strong proponent of the Essential Programs and Services model of school funding. The quality of education that students receive should not be determined by their place of residence. The Coalition believes that Question 1B provides a sound funding formula for determining fair and reasonable funding to implement Learning Results within available state resources. The passage of Question 1B will also bolster state support for local education and achieve the 55 percent state goal."

Sen. Michael Brennan of Portland said: "The debate about a casino in Maine has dominated the discussion over the past several months. However, Question 1 is every bit or more significant because it defines the future of K-12 funding for the State of Maine over the next decade. Rep. Glenn Cummings, House Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Educational and Cultural Services, and I are supporting Question 1B because it totally reforms the school funding formula as we know it and at the same time provides property tax relief to most communities in Maine."

Rep. Peter Mills of Cornville said: "Question 1B contains a funding formula that is good for rural and poorer Maine school districts. The Essential Programs and Services funding model enables people to understand what the reasonable and necessary costs of a K-12 education based on an objective set of standards. This information is very important for school committees and local municipal councils to understand in making local decisions about school funding."

Charles "Wick" Johnson, current chair of the University of Maine Board of Trustees and president of Kennebec Tool & Die, said: "I am speaking as an individual who has been a public school educator, a current leader of a business in Central Maine and as a policy maker currently serving on a Maine public higher education board of trustees. Question 1B sets a reasonable and well thought out program that has developed a strong consensus for increasing state support for public education in this state. Question 1B increases state funding for K-12 while gradually lowering the local share of school funding and over time delivers real property tax relief to many residents in lower valuation communities. The Governor and the Legislature have overwhelmingly supported this policy direction knowing that phasing in funding increases can take place within the growth of State resources while addressing other critical state needs."

Other attendees at Thursday's event included: Jack Rosser, the chair of the Committee to Study Organizational and Tax Issues in Public Schools; and Marge Medd, former chair of the Maine State Board of Education and current member of the Coalition for Excellence in Education. Eve Bither, former commissioner of the Maine Department of Education expressed support for 1B, but was unable to attend the press conference.

Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Mainers for Real and Responsible Property Tax Relief, the bi-partisan campaign committee which advocates for a Yes vote on 1B, said he was heartened by the support from such a broad range of education and funding experts.

"Question 1B is a collaborative commitment to increase state support of education to 55 percent that we can afford without raising taxes and without cutting vital state services that are already strapped," said Connors. "It's the Maine way and deserves the support of all Mainers."

George Campbell, former mayor of Portland, serves as the group's Treasurer. Other supporters of the coalition include members of the Legislature, business leaders, health and social services organizations, education and municipal officials.

Endorsements for Question 1B to date include:

- Maine Hospital Association
- Maine Healthcare Association
- Maine State Board of Education
- Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education
- Maine Tourism Association
- Maine Merchants Association
- Maine Restaurant Association
- Maine Children's Alliance
- Maine State Chamber of Commerce
- Maine Substance Abuse Providers
- Maine Chiropractors Association
- Maine Women's Lobby
- Maine Council of Churches
- Maine State Nurses Association
- Maine Peoples Alliance
- Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers
- Maine Pulp and Paper Association
- Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce
- Associated Constructors of Maine
- Maine Motor Transport Association
- Maine Council of Senior Citizens
- Maine Association of Mental Health Services
- Consumers for Affordable Health Care
- Maine Association of REALTORS

The Maine Senate also passed the underlying legislation that supports Question 1B by a vote of 31-0 and the House by a vote of 112-22.

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