The July 31 Tri-Town Weekly editorial cartoon with an elderly couple concerned about “With health care costs up, the price of food, gas and heating oil, and now the end of the Circuit Breaker program, I think we finally have to sell the old family homestead,” coupled with (I believe) a caricature of our governor saying “Come on in, Maine’s “Open for Business”!” certainly applies to RSU 5 towns (well, maybe not Freeport).

I am certainly in favor of resolving the overcrowding at Freeport High School, but coupling athletic upgrades in the bond proposal was inappropriate given the current financial challenges in the state and the trickle-down consequences to the towns. Durham’s tax rate went up 12 percent without the RSU 5 bond.

For most people who are working, salaries have been effectively flat for years. For senior citizens on a fixed income, well, look at the editorial cartoon again.

I support the concept of RSU 5; I do believe that all three towns benefit. Forty percent of Freeport voters rejected the bond proposal; Pownal and Durham voted against the proposal, while, as in the past, thinking their vote really didn’t count.

Please resubmit the bond proposal without the athletic upgrades. I expect the vote will be closer.

Charlie Kettell

Durham