To the editor:

Scarborough is facing a very challenging budget situation. If it’s any consolation, we’re not alone as I’m sure almost every community in the country is facing similar challenges.

Maine, as many other states, is suffering from severe losses in revenue as a result of the recession, requiring severe cutbacks in spending. These cuts are seriously affecting communities like Scarborough in their education budgets. The burden of funding education is falling more and more on the shoulders of local taxpayers.

I’m hopeful that our elected officials demonstrate leadership in addressing this shortfall. We often hear the plight of quality economic development in Maine and why our young people always have to leave for good jobs. Here’s an opportunity to step up to the plate and do everything possible to maintain the level of education Scarborough has attained.

I would discourage our town councilors from just demanding an arbitrary percentage change in the tax rate as they have done in the past. Hopefully this process will be much more thoughtful and both the council and the school board can reach some reasonable agreement.

Too often the education budget is seen as a “cost” item in the budget, when I would argue it’s an investment. If we don’t do our best to provide the educations required for our students, not only are we shortchanging them, we’re shortchanging ourselves as well.

I urge all citizens to express your support to both bodies for a thoughtful and constructive budget process.

Roger Beeley

Scarborough