2008-2009 Superintendent's School Budget Proposal (699K)
(includes budget message, budget spreadsheet, major changes, staff changes, tax rate, expenditure and revenue charts, and budget narratives from administrators)

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The School Board has scheduled a series of public workshops for the next four weeks to review and develop its budget proposal for 2008-2009.

At their meeting Feb. 12, the board received a draft from Superintendent Alan Hawkins, one he described as different from those he has presented in past years.

"This full budget is much much higher than it has ever been before," Hawkins told members of the board. "But, it is also answering requests that you have made of me and the DLT," referring to the District Leadership Team of school administrators.

Hawkins presented a $21.3 million budget proposal to the board, $2.49 million higher than this year's budget, an increase of 13.28 percent.

For the first time in his three-year tenure in Cape Elizabeth, Hawkins said, the budget draft is not based on limits set by the consumer price index. Instead, he said, the budget is based on needs.

"What I want the public to understand is, this is not a budget built on the craziness of the superintendent who wants to spend much, much money. It is a budget proposal to the board based on what you really need to see about your school system, whether it be technology and what's happening there, whether it be in whatever area, and how those all come together to make a school system work and provide the best education possible," Hawkins said.

Of the $2.49 million increase, $1 million is in requests for additional staff. The additions vary widely among all three of Cape Elizabeth schools, and include new curriculum/instruction/assessment and professional development positions at each of the schools.

The draft assumes a flat state-revenue allocation of $2.8 million, because state revenues have yet to be determined. Taxes for school services, under the draft, would rise to $13.65 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, an increase of 15.8 percent. The hike would add $467.28 to the tax bill on a home valued at $250,000.

Hawkins emphasized that, like so many other aspects of running the schools, the budget is a process. The superintendent's piece is to work with administrators, under the guidance of the School Board, to present the superintendent's budget, he said. During the next few weeks, the board will begin the process of turning the draft into the board's budget, to be presented to the Town Council.

And, for the first time, Hawkins said, because of new state legislation the budget will probably go for a final vote to the citizens of Cape Elizabeth.

"We really have some hard work ahead of us," Hawkins said.

All School Board budget workshops are open to the public and will be held at the High School library. The first is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 14, followed by meetings Feb. 26 and March 4. All will begin at 7 p.m. A fourth workshop may be held March 6 if needed.

Plans are for the board to be ready to approve its budget recommendation by its next meeting March 11, but Hawkins said more meetings may be scheduled if the board needs more time to develop its budget before presenting it to the Town Council.

Click here for full budget schedules.