AUGUSTA, Maine - The group "Stand Up for Students" says it has collected 95,000 petition signatures in support of an initiative measure designed to generate more money for Maine public schools.
The group wants the state to impose a 3 percent income tax surcharge on the top 2 percent of wage earners in the state. The group says that would generate another $157 million for schools in its first year and more in subsequent years.
John Costin owns Veneer Services Unlimited in Kennebunk and is an advisory committee member of the Maine Small Business Coalition.
"All businesses are relying on the education system to educate our workers, our future workers," Costin says. "Our current workers might be educated in adult ed programs and our future workers are being educated in the public schools."
The groups says it plans to submit its petitions to the Maine Secretary of State's office on Monday.
