School budget opposed by Milo selectmen

To The Citizens of Milo;
The M.S.A.D. #41 Board of Directors recently approved a budget which will be sent to the voters of Milo on June 29th.The budget includes a $300,000 increase, which would impact Milo Taxpayers approximately $135,000 or almost 2 mils.

Over the years, the citizens of Milo have, with very few exceptions, annually supported the school district’s requests for funding.

This year, the Milo Board of Selectmen believe the proposed budget deserves a NO vote on June 29th.

We acknowledge the difficult economics of funding a small, rural school district. However, our most vulnerable citizens cannot afford the size of the proposed increase. The State of Maine cut $164,000 from the administration line of the budget. Administration funding is based, in part, on what the Department of Education computes to be acceptable Central Office operating costs.

In the proposed budget, there are several cuts in personnel and student support. Those decisions, like many others, are for the School Board and Superintendent to propose. It is up to the citizens of Milo to approve the proposal.

The primary concern for the Board of Selectmen is the failure to make cuts to the Superintendent’s Office. Is it a reasonable expectation for the budget line to be reduced, before citizens are asked to increase their taxes or to accept less classroom support for their students?

We believe that expectation is both reasonable and educationally sound.

For these reasons, the Milo Board of Selectmen, with deliberation and seriousness, asks the voters of Milo to send this budget back to the School Board for additional revisions by voting it down.

School officials are hopeful of more funding from Augusta before the legislature adjourns for the summer. If that funding is forthcoming, the Board of Selectmen will revisit its position and make that publically known.

Respectfully,
Milo Board of Selectmen
Leland McManus, Chairman
Paula Copeland
Peter Hamlin
Tony Hamlin
Isabelle Warren