The unfortunate knee-jerk reaction to the proposed tax increase that would have resulted in passage of the Pembroke School Board budget proposal will have negative long-range repercussions. The draconian three-million-dollar reduction will seriously impact the quality of education offered to Pembroke students. The school board and the budget committee, like all of us who voted, are the victims of a seriously flawed system in this state that burdens the average taxpayer. Costs have been downshifted to towns by the state for decades and this is the unfortunate consequence of the unfair property tax reliance that exists. Although there have been attempts over the years to somewhat fix this problem, it continues because there are those who benefit from the middle and lower taxpayers who fund the local public schools.

There might be slight relief from the recent court decisions regarding increasing adequacy and fixing the outrageous state property tax allocation, but the state is in the process of appealing both cases, which will prolong the final outcomes or even negate them. Even if they stand, they will not solve the inherent problem. Meanwhile towns must raise taxes to provide even the basic services our kids need. A reasonable cut to the school budget might have sustained quality, a huge cut will no doubt result in the school board having to make some difficult decisions that will have serious ramifications. Please consider your vote carefully in November, from the top of the ticket to the bottom. The results will have enormous consequences.

David Doherty

Pembroke