Rejected budget forces SAD 4 to consider options

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

 GUILFORD — After voters in all six member towns rejected a proposed $7.27 million budget on June 9, School Administrative District 4 Board of Directors will have to restart the process from the beginning.

 Although the turnout was small, the margins in the four smaller communities — Abbot, Cambridge, Parkman and Wellington — were overwhelming.

 Parkman voters rejected the budget by an 87-23 margin and the referendum lost in Abbot, 87-13. The votes were much closer in Guilford (48-36) and Sangerville (49-35).

 But at last week’s school board meeting, Ann Bridge of Parkman – a former school board member and retired superintendent — cautioned directors not to act hastily. “I think you can go back through this budget with a fine-tooth comb in a way that I didn’t see happen at the budget committee meetings this year,” Bridge said. “Look at every penny before you start slashing programs left and right.”

 Bridge also suggested that the district take a closer look at its fund balance. “Use of more of the general funds toward the budget would significantly lower the amount you’re going to be passing on to the taxpayers,” she added.

 Bridge said that in previous years, the local share that needed to be raised to support the schools varied among towns “so you didn’t get them all angry at once. Now you’ve got everyone angry.”

 While the first tier of the two-part budget proposal passed at the May 28 public hearing, many articles were approved by only two-or three-vote margins. The referendum for final approval was an up or down vote on the total budget.

 One major bone of contention was the $620,455 requested in local funds which could have hiked local taxes 10 to 13 percent.

 But Superintendent Ann Kirkpatrick pointed out that the overall budget is actually down by 1.9 percent or $80,000. But since SAD 4’s average enrollment has dropped by 68 students during the past three years, the state’s share of funding has also decreased while many fixed expenses have risen.

 The school population of 623 also includes 110 identified as special needs students.

 Kirkpatrick told directors that the Maine School Management Association also recommended a slow and careful process to revise the budget and also noted that the Maine Legislature is scheduled to adjourn around June 17.

 A bill has been submitted to add another $50 million in aid to local school districts, but lawmakers are uncertain whether it will pass both chambers and withstand a possible veto by Gov. Paul LePage.

 But Kirkpatrick said that if additional funds do come in, they can be applied to the budget and thus reduce the local share. “We’ll have hard and fast numbers to give to the towns,” she said. “But something has to happen by June 30, or the state will be facing a shutdown.”

 The budget committee will meet on June 22 or 24 and the full board will make its recommendation shortly thereafter. A district meeting and referendum will then be scheduled. “Hopefully, we’ll have a budget in place by Aug. 1,” Kirkpatrick said.

 In other action at last week’s meeting, directors rejected a proposal to start charging elementary students 50 cents and high school pupils $1 for breakfast. The meals have been free at the district for years and the board preferred to maintain the tradition.

 School officials said that a combination of the increased cost of labor and benefits, the need to replace kitchen equipment and fewer students taking advantage of the free food were reasons for the request.

 The food service division has traditionally been self-supporting through lunch revenue, state and federal subsidies.

 Some directors said that some kids simply didn’t like the menu, even though they didn’t have to pay for it. “We shouldn’t start charging people for something they don’t like,” said Director Dale Gray.