Dear elected officials, Please vote 'NO' on LD 1748. This bill would turn the local school budget referendum process on its head. Instead of giving Mainers a say in school budgets by default as is the case today, citizens would have to collect signatures in order to force a vote on them. School costs, and thus municipal budgets, are rising, and Mainers deserve a voice in this process every year. The passage of LD 1748 would eliminate property taxpayers' oversight and accountability in school budgets, leading to runaway tax increases year after year. Mainers shouldn't have to collect signatures in order to have a voice in school and municipal budgets. Municipal budgets should be an open and transparent process. School officials shouldn't be able to craft budgets behind closed doors and force residents to pay for them through property tax increases without their consent. The passage of this bill would undermine our state's democracy and make local officials less accountable to their constituents. Please OPPOSE LD 1748 and vote 'NO' to preserve property taxpayers' voice in municipal budgets.

Dear members of the Maine Legislature, Please vote 'NO' on LD 1748 this session. This bill would turn the local school budget referendum process on its head. Instead of giving Mainers a say in school budgets by default as we do today, citizens would have to collect signatures in order to force a vote on them. School costs and municipal budgets are rising, and Maine taxpayers deserve a voice in this process. The passage of LD 1748 would eliminate property taxpayers' oversight and accountability in school budgets, leading to runaway property tax increases year after year. Mainers shouldn't have to collect signatures in order to have a voice in school and municipal budgets. Municipal budgets should be an open and transparent process. School officials shouldn't be able to craft budgets behind closed doors and force residents to pay for them through increased property taxes without the consent of residents. Please OPPOSE LD 1748 and vote 'NO' to preserve the current local school budget referendum process.