Barbara Bagshaw: LD 2226 A Flawed Fix for Maine’s Education Funding Formula

By State Rep. Barbara Bagshaw

LD 2226 was introduced through a placeholder bill just one month before the end of the legislative session. The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee sent an empty bill to Legislative Council for approval while awaiting a critical report from MEPRI on the Essential Program Services (EPS) funding formula. While most agree the formula needs updating, I was deeply troubled by how rushed the entire process was.

State Rep. Barbara Bagshaw

Just days before the House vote, legislators received a massive amendment disguised as a language review. For two years, as an elected member of the Education Committee, I have repeatedly called for action on Maine’s declining student test scores. I have formally requested on the record a roundtable discussion with Education Commissioner Pender Makin and the Department of Education to address these declining scores, along with serious FERPA and Title IX violations that could cost Maine millions in federal funding.

During an appropriations meeting, Commissioner Makin promised on the record to provide specific documents and explanations before our work session. Those materials were never delivered. Dr. Cyr from the DOE also repeatedly assured me the information was forthcoming. We received nothing. The commissioner did not attend the work session, yet we were still expected to vote on a major supplemental budget without this critical information. Much of the committee’s time was spent reviewing bills submitted by the Department of Education, essentially being told how to advise them.

This dynamic is backwards. The Legislature should be providing oversight and direction to the Department, not the other way around. Instead, we saw repeated requests for more funding and less oversight. According to the Maine Department of Education, public school enrollment has declined by 12,000 students over the past decade – a 6.6 percent drop – yet non-teaching positions and overall education spending have continued to rise dramatically since 2014. As a former teacher, I support properly funding our schools. However, we must demand a better return on that investment. We need to refocus on core academics – math, science, and reading – rather than placing disproportionate emphasis on equity and inclusion initiatives.

We must also listen to parents and address the actual educational needs of Maine students. In a particularly troubling move, the majority party lifted the cap that previously limited how much municipalities could raise property taxes each year. What was once tied to the cost of living is now uncapped. Local officials will almost certainly take full advantage of this change. This is not how government should function. Too many of my constituents have been forced to sell their homes or leave the state because they can no longer afford the tax burden. State and local officials are increasingly confiscating wealth from hardworking Mainers rather than serving them.

Under the current administration, the state budget has nearly doubled over seven years, with millions more added through supplemental budgets. There has been minimal input from the minority party. Maine has a serious spending problem.

I voted against LD 2226 – not because the EPS formula doesn’t need reform, but because the process was rushed, the bill was not ready, and it contains troubling provisions. The held harmless clause guarantees funding levels through 2031 regardless of continued enrollment declines. The new formula also fails to connect funding to student outcomes. Additionally, the bill carries a massive unfunded fiscal note. We should have waited for the full MEPRI report, done our due diligence, and developed a responsible formula that improves academic excellence without pricing families out of their homes. Our students deserve better.

It is an honor to represent part of Windham in the Legislature. If there is any way that I can be of assistance, please contact me at [email protected]. My office phone number is 207-287-1440. You can find me on Facebook. To receive regular updates, sign up for my e-newsletter at https://mainehousegop.org/

The opinions in this column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Windham Eagle newspaper ownership or its staff. <