To the editor,

The 2024-2025 Ellsworth School budget, local state and federal is $28,141,000. That may include the current levy override, maybe not, of $1,300,000 for the last four years which is expiring and thus the referendum this April. The current override is asking for a 68% increase or $2,185,000. I am opposed to a 68% increase in the levy override. In reality, there should not be any levy override beyond what is received from state federal and property taxes. A 68% increase is unrealistic. Taxpayers cannot afford it. 

A budget is created when all monies are counted and not the other way around. Schools have become administratively top heavy and the teaching staff suffers instead. Example: seven administrative salaries approximately, total $903,500 before benefits.

Besides 85-90% of the total budget is devoted to salaries, benefits and unfunded mandates with the administration taking most of it including receiving a golden parachute. No household functions like that. If the school needs more money, take a line of credit from the bank and the PTA can work with the parents of children to commit to a monthly amount for repayment. 

Sanjeev Dhawan 

Ellsworth