‘Learn from my mistakes and vote YES’

BY EZRA HUG

As a newcomer to Cape Elizabeth, I feel it’s important to share my experience with the last school bond vote. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I got duped by all the glossy mailers and posts from groups like Cape Neighbors Alliance. They had me convinced that my property taxes would skyrocket by 25% making my monthly mortgage payments a struggle. So, I ended up voting “No.”

But then I started attending Town Council and School Board meetings, and I quickly realized I had been misled. The facts presented by the professionals showed that the tax increase for the new school bond would be closer to $70 a month, not the $300 I had feared. This reasonable investment would give us a much-needed new school to replace the failing one, ensuring our kids have a safe and modern place to learn, instead of being stuck in unsecured trailers.

Even the alternative “quick fix” option, which would only tackle basic maintenance issues, would still cost an extra $30-40 a month and would need to be addressed again in just a few years. We have the chance to make a meaningful, long-term investment in our community’s quality of life, at a cost that I think the majority of folks in town can handle.

I encourage my fellow residents to learn from my mistakes and vote “YES” for this crucial investment in our town’s future. It’s the right thing to do for our kids and our community.