Referendum Signature Drive Kicks Off

The independent group Save Our Schools (SOS), led by founder David Croston, kicked off its first signature drive Thursday morning at Portsmouth High School.

As of 9 a.m., the group had collected 50 more names from registered voters.

"It was a fair turnout," said Croston, who is running for School Committee. "We still have a ways to go."

SOS has already collected more than 550 names of registered voters. They will need another 850 signatures before the deadline on Aug. 11.

The group will hold another signature drive this afternoon/early evening at Portsmouth High School, 120 Education Lane, from 4 to 7 p.m.

A second signature drive will be held again on Friday from 6 to 9 a.m. and again from 4 to 7.

On July 29, the SOS group submitted an official request for a referendum, asking for an additional $765,301 for the Portsmouth schools.

According to SOS, the amount represents a total school budget request of $36,293,021 or a 1.5 percent increase from fiscal year 2010.

If successful, according to SOS organizers, the referendum would increase taxes $0.204 per thousand or $71.44 annually for a home valued at $350,000.

For more information about SOS or the referendum, please visit sosportsmouth.blogspot.com.