I want to personally thank the Bangor City Council for publicly opposing the controversial TABOR II initiative this week. I attended the Monday night meeting and was pleased to see so many citizens who turned out to urge the council to vote in opposition. Not one person in the audience stood up in favor of TABOR II.
After much discussion, the council opposed TABOR II with a 7-1 vote. It is important to note that the council included an amendment that stresses the importance of learning about this initiative before you enter the ballot box and cast your vote on Nov. 3. This amendment is vital to all citizens as we must do our homework be-fore making our decision.
In September, I will return to my kindergarten classroom and that is one reason I am opposing TABOR II, a revised version of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. If this referendum should pass, TABOR II will have a significant impact on education. Bangor lost $530,000 during the last budget cycle and it is predicted that amount could double next year. Passing TABOR II would add insult to injury. Maine schools are already hurting from this deep recession and further cuts would only undermine what teachers are already trying to do: Provide quality education for all Maine students.
During the council meeting, a University of Maine student spoke up. She talked about being a lifelong resident of Maine and wishing to stay in Maine to find a job and raise a family some day. She explained that right now she is able to afford an excellent education from a state university, but fears that when our state university system no longer receives the funding that is needed, she and many others will not be able to afford rising tuition. Education in-state becomes less affordable and staying in Maine to build a future becomes less attractive. It is unfortunate when our state loses its young people to out-of-state competitors.
Finally, a firefighter addressed the council and described how public safety is already feeling the financial pinch. He reminded the council that as citizens we have been down this road before with Palesky in 2004 and TABOR I in 2006. Each time Mainers voted it down, but here we go again. TABOR II is not the answer.
Summer weather is finally here and everyone wants to enjoy it while it lasts, but November will be here sooner than we think. Do your homework, get informed.
Thank you again to the Bangor City Council for listening to the citizens and taking a stand.
Martha Gladstone of Bangor is a teacher and co-president of the Bangor Education Association.