04/13/10
(updated 04/14/10)
Board adopts 'midpoint' school budget proposal of $20.67 million
The School Board voted unanimously on April 13, 2010 to adopt a $20.67 million school budget for 2010-2011.
The budget has come to be known as the "midpoint" proposal of three that had been considered by the board during workshop sessions in March, representing the midpoint between a budget that posed no tax increase, and a "maintenance" budget retaining existing programs at a 5-percent tax increase.
The budget adopted by the board, to be presented to the Town Council later this month, proposes a tax-rate increase of 35 cents over this year's $12.54 for school services, or 2.75 percent. It represents a spending increase of 3.36 percent, or $671,885 over this year's $20 million school budget.
Combined budget proposals for school, town, county and Community Services for fiscal 2011 pose a 1.7 percent increase in taxes, or 30 cents over the current rate of $17.54..
The adopted budget is the culmination of five budget workshops, plus a public forum held by the board at the end of March. But Rebecca Millett, chairman of the School Board, said in her view the budget began at a December 2009 workshop held for the public to suggest ways for the schools to address a $621,000 curtailment imposed by the state last fall.
"We heard from numerous citizens from all parts of our community basically say they were looking for a reasonable, balanced approach to our town services and to our school district," Millett said. "I think that many months later, many hours later, we have something we can say is reflective of that," she said.
The adopted budget, which includes a net staff reduction of just over two full-time equivalent positions, also includes increases in participation fees, added parking fees at the High School, a donation of salary from teachers and administrators, and an increase in taxpayer contribution, she said.
"While it's still painful to think about the cuts that are going to be made this year, I think it's a balanced approach," Millett said.
Before the vote to adopt the budget, Millett moved to keep technology educational-technicians at their present Ed Tech II grade, and to restore the Middle School librarian's position from half-time to full-time. The balance of the funds needed for the librarian restoration, $29,112, would come from contingency.
The motion, seconded by board member Mary Townsend and included in the final vote, leaves approximately $300,000 in contingency. Much of that funding is from an unexpected increase in state general purpose aid to education that Cape Elizabeth was allocated for next fiscal year.
The adopted budget includes $925,170 in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or federal stimulus money. That money is not expected to be available for fiscal 2012's budget, so board members are cautious about use of contingency.
Millett also announced that this would be the last budget she would vote on as a member of the Cape Elizabeth School Board.
While the vote to approve was unanimous, some board members still expressed concerns. Kathy Ray, chairman of the board's finance committee, said she was concerned about any impact a tax increase will have on citizens on fixed incomes, or who have lost incomes. She also said she was concerned about an increase in parking fees at the High School - slated to rise from a one-time $25 fee to an annual $50 fee. The fee is expected to raise $8,000 next year, but Ray and board member Linda Winker said they did not think that expectation would be realized.
The Finance Committee, a committee of the whole Town Council, is scheduled to review the school budget in a workshop session at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 6, at Town Hall.
Previous stories:
|
Subscribe
