Dear Editor: 

Recently I submitted a letter urging a Yes vote for Bond Question 1. As expected, it has led to numerous discussions at the Post Office, Hannaford, and the Refuse Center. All conversations were civil, yet it was clear the message of “your taxes will double, triple, or worse” is a campaign slogan inaccurately raising fear. A Yes vote for Bond Question 1 will not double or triple your real estate tax.   

First, does the community and our future need an improved K-8 facility – Hell yes.  No matter what happens to the high school, K-8 is the foundation to build on. I believe planning for the high school needs to address organizational and operational issues before the 2nd bond question should be passed, but renovation and expansion of the K-8 facility is needed now.     

The tax increase if Bond 1 passes and Bond 2 fails, Boothbay 13%, Boothbay Harbor 10.9%. Early voting and voting on Nov. 7 asks us to decide if $28.8 million should be borrowed and spent on the K-8 facility. Those are not small increases, but taxes will not double, etc.   

Those who say taxes will double, triple, etc. use math that includes 5% increases in operating expense each year. Operating budgets are subject to a vote each year. Whether we pass the bond questions or not, there will be an operating budget. The current vote on Bond Question 1 only impacts taxes 10.9% or 13%, a far cry from doubling, tripling, or worse.  I am not ignoring operating budget increases; those are a separate issue, and all taxpayers can be diligent in assuring the annual operating budgets are acceptable.   

Finally, I am concerned that defeat of Bond Question 1 would mean we are not looking into the future with optimism and are not committed to making the future better.  When decisions effectively say “We’re preparing to be less than we are now,” you can be sure that’s exactly the outcome that will be achieved.    

I am a member of the Boothbay Harbor Selectboard. The above are my personal thoughts and opinions and not related to the Boothbay Harbor Selectboard. 

Ken Rayle 

Boothbay Harbor