Thanks to Chief Legendre and David Cole for their thoughtful, detailed letters regarding the Proposition 2.5 override in the July 13th issue of Shorelines. I find this better than all the personal ideas and virtue signaling frequently published.

So back to the Proposition 2.5 override. The largest expense category for the Town of Westport is education, and this is typical for most if not all municipalities. Westport Town Reports for the years 2012 and 2022, pages 43 and 31 respectively, indicate educational costs having increased 32 percent over 10 years which equates to a 2.81 percent yearly growth rate. This doesn’t look too bad until you consider cost per student.

For the period 2013 to 2023, the cost per student increased from $8,699 to $13,970, which equates to a growth rate of 4.85 percent. Westport is spending ever-increasing amounts to educate fewer students, and failing to provide competitive education experiences for high school students in grades 9 to 12. It is not only a serious problem, but an expensive problem.

Vote 'NO' on the 2.5 Proposition Override. Taking additional taxpayer funds to compensate for a failing school system is not a good investment. We need a structural change in the school board and their appointed personnel.

Elliot F. Whipple

Westport