Candidates weigh whether school tax hike will drive young families away

The candidates split on whether a school‑funding tax increase would discourage young families from moving to Cape Elizabeth or whether school quality is the greater factor.

Arianne Herter and Larry Kaplan highlighted falling enrollment over the last decade; Herter said enrollment is “down almost 200 students in the last 10 years,” arguing the town should weigh affordability alongside facility upgrades. Kaplan noted that if middle‑class families cannot afford to move here, even the best schools won’t restore diversity.

Phil Saucier and Caitlin Sweet emphasized that deteriorating facilities themselves deter newcomers: Saucier said that people ‘interview towns’ and cited overflowing classrooms and makeshift learning spaces; Sweet said rankings declines and facility problems can be a deterrent but argued the relative monthly tax impact of some renovation scenarios was small and that long‑term investment could be necessary.

Candidates converged on a practical point: both taxes and school condition matter, and solutions will require balancing investment with measures (tax relief, affordable housing, or revenue diversification) to protect affordability for middle‑income families.