Dear Editor:

I believe that the referendum questions about the schools in this coming election will have significant implications for the future or our communities. I am a resident of Southport but own property in Boothbay Harbor. I am urging all voters in Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor to vote yes on both questions.

I strongly believe that having a good local school system will attract younger families with children to the region, and bringing those younger families here is critical for the future of our region. We are now an elderly community and if we don’t attract younger residents here I am afraid we will be left watching our community decline. Of course, the work on the schools will cause an increase in our taxes, but I know there will be a strong effort to raise money via donations and keep the tax increase as low as possible.

Please vote yes on both questions; do it for your children and grandchildren as well as the future of the communities we love.

Mike McBride