As the old saying goes, “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.” For the Old Orchard Beach Town Council, that “gift horse” is coming in the form of unused reserve funds in the bank account of the soon-to-be defunct School Department.

The council was advised by Superintendent Jack Turcotte that $350,000 in reserve funds remain, set aside for unexpected shortfalls or budget balancing, which never occurred. Turcotte was before the board to ask whether the funds should be spent on needed fixes to town educational property, or turned over to the newly formed Regional School Unit 23 administration.

The majority opinion, though nothing has been finalized, was “spend it.” We agree.

Even though Old Orchard Beach will be one of three players in the RSU, the funds in the pot were set aside to handle community issues of the past. Those issues did not occur, but fiscal frugality has left the funds available, as well as projects (such as roof repairs) yet to do.

Instead of turning over building stock to the merged district with needs at hand, we suggest making the necessary repairs to all possible problems before July 1. Letting small issues linger until they become large problems, which the taxpayers of two other communities would then have to resolve, is never a good idea.

Much can be done with $350,000. We just hope that, if the Town Council decides to spend it, it is done wisely, and on school property issues alone.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Publisher Drew McMullin at 282-1535, Ext. 326 or  dmcmullin@gwi.net, or Managing Editor Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535, Ext. 327 or cityeditor@gwi.net.