On June 1 the Maine Department of Education announced that the $537,000 reduction in state aid to MSAD 71, announced originally in November 2008, has been restored by the use of stimulus funds, this money was not included in the school budget, approved in May of this year. In the budget process for the district, state funding for education has always been a mystery right up to the time that the budget is presented to the voters for approval, causing the district to estimate those funds in a conservative manner.

The district, recognizing that this state funding is only an estimate, has always inserted a caveat with the budget request, that additional state monies, over that estimate, would be used to reduce the property tax impact to us for that budget year.

The district so far has not confirmed it will follow its past commitment, and may use it to fund future expenditures. Please contact your school board members and advise them you want that tax relief now.

Edward Geoghan

Kennebunk