I have been an educator for 15 years, teaching software developers how to build Web applications, teaching aspiring pilots how to fly airplanes, and teaching Fortune 100 companies how to transform their business processes. Whether learning happens in a school or a corporation, high-quality education has a very high return on investment.

Whether you are a household, a town, a state, or a country, you must live within your budget over the long term. You must bring home as much money as we spend. Few people would argue that our $14 trillion-plus national debt can continue growing unabated.

Public education is the cornerstone of our country’s future economic success, and it provides a measure of equal opportunity in an increasingly unequal economic playing field. However, public education expenditures cannot be excessive or wasteful.

It was therefore with great pride that I see Falmouth topping Forbes magazine’s national Best Schools for your Real Estate Buck list. Not only do we have great schools in absolute terms, but we are getting incredible value for our property tax dollars. Even with Falmouth’s mil rate lower than other Portland suburbs, our schools outperform.

I encourage Falmouth residents to join me in ensuring our schools stay the best in the country by voting Yes on 2 to approve the school budget.

Ben Frueh
Falmouth


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