Dear Editor:

I’m not one to get into political debates and I try to stay on the sidelines, but I feel strongly enough about this one that I think some facts ought to be shared with the public.

Question 2 asks voters to add a 3 percent tax on individuals who earn above $200,000 to increase funding for education. The pro-Question 2 advocates, spearheaded by the Maine Education Association, says that if the referendum passes, it would raise 157 million dollars, which is the amount needed to bring funding up to the 55 percent promised by a referendum back in 2004.

The Yes on 2, Stand Up for Students Facebook page says that Question 2 is to improve PreK-12 education, and asks voters to vote yes to Stand Up for Students in Maine. If this referendum passes, Waterville schools are slated to receive two million dollars and Westbrook schools stand to receive over 2.5 million dollars. The Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District and the Southport Central School stand to receive not one single penny.

If Question 2 passes, the funds received will be funneled through the very confusing state funding formula for school subsidy. Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport do not qualify for funds under this formula due to their three-year average property valuation, which is used to calculate state subsidy for schools. The subsidy these schools receive are therefore calculated on 30 percent of the cost of their Special Education programs.

Question 2 supporters want residents in the state of Maine to believe that all students will benefit from this referendum. Our students will not, nor will students from 83 other minimum receiving districts.

Vote on November 8 and vote armed with the facts.

Richard Hallinan

Boothbay Harbor