Editor:

Social Security gets a 1.8 percent raise; fire, police and public works are fighting for a 2 percent raise and work all year long.

But the school department gets a 4 percent raise for 36 weeks a year because they have strong union and control the cities and town. Some of these teachers are nothing but freeloaders and not doing their job and get their raises regularly every year.

Why is it that a students gets promoted and cannot spell or do math or geography and yet the so-called teachers are not made accountable, fired or not have their contract renewed? These are the deadbeats that are expendable.

It’s time that the city council tell the school department that they get a 2 percent raise like everyone else and stand up to the union.

It’s time to let the school department know they are going to stop getting the golden egg.

The cost of living has gone up and yet the school wants more money when a lot of people that are retired are being driven out of their homes by being overtaxed.

Before the school budget is passed they should show a line-item budget and the school budget should be voted on by the taxpayers, not the school board.

Am I bitter? Yes. When I see retired people living on fixed income paying $3.69 a gallon for fuel oil to keep warm and buy less food because they have to pay their taxes, utilities and even have to pay for their animals who may be their only companion.

Think about it.

Richard Campbell

South Portland