View:
2008-2009 REVISED School Budget
Proposal (340K)
(includes revised budget message, summary of changes from original
2008-09 budget draft, budget summary and projected tax rates, budget
detail)
(Adobe's Acrobat Reader is required to view. Download it for free
here.)
03/12/08
School Board narrowly appoves $19.9 million budget
proposal
The School Board on March 11 narrowly approved a $19.9 million budget for
presentation to the Town Council.
By a 4-3 vote, the board approved a 6-percent increase in school spending
for the next fiscal year, after an initial motion for a 7.5 percent increase
failed 3-4.
The 6-percent increase represents a compromise among the seven School Board
members who were sharply divided on the amount of increase the 2008-09 budget
should have. Board members Peter Cotter and Linda Winker, and Chairman Kathy
Ray, voted against both proposals, saying they would rather see the budget
increase by the 5.2 percent necessary to meet salaries and benefits, and
to meet rising energy and fuel costs.
Board members Rebecca Millett, Trish Brigham and Karen Burke ultimately supported
the 6-percent increase after their votes for the 7.5 percent increase failed
to win a majority.
Board member Jack Kennealy, who seconded Millett's motion for the compromise,
cast the deciding vote, but expressed frustration with the budget process
during this, his first term on the School Board. "My concern is that I don't
think we have a planning process, a goal-setting process, that is aligned
with the budget-setting process," Kennealy said. "I really would like to
see this process done in a much more effective way," he said.
At the end of the meeting, he suggested the board discuss appointing a citizen
committee with business experience to explore a revised budget process.
Cotter said he shared Kennealy's frustration, and that there were too many
unknowns, such as the amount of state funding Cape Elizabeth will receive.
As of Feb. 28, Cape Elizabeth officials have budgeted $2.9 million in state
funding, but that amount may vary depending on an uncertain economy and state
budget.
The current economy, and rising energy costs, prompted some of the board
to favor a leaner budget than what was approved. "I have a personal interest
in the schools. I have a child in school and I went through the schools,"
said Chairman Kathy Ray. "But, I am very concerned about the economy," she
said. Unlike other communities that spend more per pupil, Cape Elizabeth
education is funded almost entirely by taxpayers. "We don't have the commercial
base they have in Yarmouth and Falmouth and Cumberland," she said.
The economy has also prompted the Town Council's Finance Committee to set
spending increase target of 4.3 percent, and a tax-increase target of less
than 10 percent, for all departments.
The budget approved by the School Board would increase taxes for school services
by 78 cents to $12.57 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, an increase of 6.7
percent. That increase would mean a school bill that is $197 higher next
year on a home valued at $250,000.
Board member Trish Brigham said the difference between a 6 percent increase
and a 5.2 percent increase would be $30 per year for that $250,000 home.
Although Brigham, Burke and Millett did vote for the compromise budget, they
argued vigorously for an increase of at least 7.5 percent.
"I don't think 6 percent fulfills my responsibility as a School Board member,"
said Brigham, who mde the first motion for a 7.5 percent increase. She said
she would like to see the $21.3 million budget that Superintendent Alan Hawkins
first presented to the School Board last month, at an increase of 13.3 percent.
But, she said the "a little above maintenance" increase of 7.5 percent "allows
us to pursue the things that our community expects."
Hawkins, at the request of the School Board, submitted a draft budget to
the board in February which in his estimation, and in the estimation of school
administrators, addresses the educational needs of Cape Elizabeth schools.
(Click here for news story) This is the first
budget submitted following a three-year pledge by members of the Town Council
to keep expenditure increases to levels no higher than the consumer price
index.
Several speakers at the March 11 meeting encouraged the board to stick to
the needs-based budget, saying education in Cape Elizabeth had lost ground
under the funding limits. Adequate funding will also help ensure Cape Elizabeth
remain a high-performing, efficient school district and retain its exemption
from mandatory district consolidation.
Last week, following a round of budget review workshops, the School Board
in a straw poll directed Hawkins to submit a revised, $19.9 million budget
proposal, an increase of 6 percent over this year's.
The revised budget approved by the board March 11 includes some staff requests
that are funded by reductions in other parts of the budget. An example is
funding for a full-time district athletic director, replacing retiring director
Keith Weatherbie, who works 3/4 time.
Weatherbie told the board that the $29,000 for the added 1/4-time would be
funded by moving Middle School athletics to Community Services. Coaches would
still be hired, paid and supervised by the schools, but the programs themselves
would be administered by Community Services, much as sports programs for
younger children are now.
Families would pay for participation on an individual basis, and costs would
depend on the program.
Sue Weatherbie, director of Community Services who is also retiring this
year, said Community Services already provides transportation, facilities
scheduling and maintenance for the programs, so the move is in line with
much of what Community Services already provides.
The current $45 fee per student for year-round participation in Middle School
athletics would no longer be collected under the proposal. "I think the most
important thing is, the Middle School athletic program would still be intact,"
Keith Weatherbie told the board.
The Finance Committee, a committee of the whole Town Council, will review
the school budget April 1. A public hearing on the entire municipal budget
is slated for Monday, May 12, with budget adoption set for a special meeting
May 27. Click here for full budget
schedules.
Unlike past years, the school budget is scheduled to go to a public vote
under the new school consolidation law. "It appears this year it will be
up to the citizens of Cape Elizabeth," said Chairman Ray. She said that as
a member of the School Board she strives to represent all residents, and
it will be interesting to see how the community as a whole will vote. The
election is scheduled for June 10, 2008, same as the primary election.
Previous story:
|
