Why Does Education in Maine Cost So Much?

In a press release today, we commented on the proposal by Education Commissioner Susan Gendron to shortchange our kid’s classroom time rather than freeze salaries or reduce unnecessary positions in Maine schools.

Yet, according to the Maine Development Foundation, as the number of children in our schools has gone down, the number of employees in our schools has gone up, particularly non-teaching employees.

Since 1979, the number of students has declined by 16%, following a downward demographic trend that’s now accelerating in our 1st and 2nd grade population.

Yet, during the same period, we’ve seen the number of employees dramatically increase. A simple MDF graph tells the story.

It’s not a pretty picture, yet Commissioner Gendron would rather hurt our kids than address our top-heavy schools. This is the type of upside-down thinking that passes for policy in Augusta.

And it’s just one more reason why Maine voters need to intervene by passing TABOR.

For more information, please visit the Maine TABOR website.

Related posts:

1. Maine Education Association: TABOR Like a “Slasher Film”
2. Has TABOR Hurt Colorado’s Schools?
3. Why is Maine’s TABOR Necessary?
4. Colorado’s the TABOR Bogeyman – Just Like 2006
5. What TABOR Opponents Think of Maine Voters

Tagged as: Education, Maine, Maine Education Association, TABOR, TABOR II, TABORNOW, Taxpayer Bill of Rights