The majority of those who spoke at a public hearing on Scarborough’s proposed new fiscal year budget last week were in favor of the $3.3 million increase in school spending, which includes $935,000 for laptops for each high school student.

However, a handful of people at the May 6 meeting also told the Town Council that the combined municipal and school budget of $80 million, which represents an increase in spending of 8.5 percent, was simply too much to ask from taxpayers.

Under the combined spending package, which includes nearly $47 million for the schools and $30.4 million on the town side, residents could see an increase in the tax rate of $1.28 per $1,000 of valuation.

A final reading on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. on May 20 and the Town Council and Board of Education were scheduled to hold a joint budget workshop this week, after the Current’s Tuesday deadline.

Much of the discussion last week centered around the proposal by the Board of Education to equip high school students with laptops, but there was also overall support for the entire school budget, which board members have argued is necessary to ensure students receive a quality education.

However, Mike Turek, who ran for the school board this past fall as a write-in candidate, argued that the school budget as proposed does not meet the affordability test and urged the council to make cuts to the bottom line before sending the school spending package to voters on June 9.

Larry Hartwell agreed and said there are many people in town that cannot afford the continual increases in their property taxes. He said taxes have gone up 20 percent during the past five years and that the rate of increase is simply not sustainable.

Wally Fengler, who has lived in town his whole life, said during the last five years his taxes have increased by $1,900 while his retirement income has only gone up by $1,500.

He urged the council to keep the increase in the combined budget closer to the increase in the consumer price index, arguing that it’s unfair for him to have to consider moving out of Scarborough due to tax increases.

Robert Rovner also argued against the school spending, in particular, and said that the school board is putting the cost of the laptops for high school students on the backs of everyone in town, which doesn’t make sense.

And Paula O’Brien, another life-long resident of Scarborough, said that those opposing this “huge increase” in their tax bills aren’t anti-school, but they “simply cannot afford such huge increases” in spending.

She asked the Town Council to consider a “more reasonable” percentage increase in the new fiscal year budget and said that while Scarborough’s tax rate may be lower than surrounding communities, the valuation for properties is often much higher.

Several members of the school board attended last week’s public hearing on the budget, including Jodi Shea, whose children attend Scarborough schools.

Shea said students at the high school are learning from textbooks that are decades out of date, whereas with a laptop they would have “up-to-the-minute information at their finger tips.”

She said that laptops would allow students to “dig deeper” and get more “in-depth and accurate information” than what is available from their textbooks.

Shea argued that laptops or tablets are the textbooks of today and that the town is failing its students by not providing them with access to new technology.

She said the laptops are “necessary tools” and that providing one-to-one technology would “equal the playing field” for Scarborough students.

Parent Cindy Kueck said there are a number of reasons people choose to live in Scarborough and one of them is the reputation of the school district. However, she said, the town has the responsibility to give students an equal opportunity for learning.

She said there are some families in town that cannot afford to buy a laptop for their child, which is why the school district should provide them.

And Drew Stevens said it was “ridiculous” for people to be arguing about whether students need access to technology in 2015. “The fact we are discussing one-to-one laptops is ludicrous,” he added, saying the technology is definitely needed.

Kim Gambardella, who moved to Scarborough five years ago, has three children in the school system and said she’s concerned about the underfunding of the schools. “We owe it to our kids to invest in them,” she argued.

Christine Cascio took it even further and said it’s “discouraging” for parents to see funding for programs eliminated every year because residents don’t support the school budget.