OXFORD — The time for SAD 17 taxpayers to pay the piper may finally be here.
Superintendent Rick Colpitts told directors Monday night that unless legislators agree to waive the state’s minimum local required share for education spending, taxpayers in the Oxford Hills School District may see an overall 11 percent increase in local assessments for fiscal year 2013-14.
The district spends less than the state requires under its Essential Programs and Services, but because of a waiver it has not had to make up the local share requirement. The federal money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other aid were used to keep the district towns’ local share the same for several years and as low as possible this year.
Without the waiver and without those extra funds, the local share may soar, Colpitts said.
He said the district has implemented a spending freeze on all but health and safety issues, and administrators must develop 2013-14 budgets that are the same as this year.
But, he said, it may only be just the tip of the iceberg. Officials are preparing for what may be a difference of millions of dollars between what the district can afford and what it needs to meet state education spending requirements.
Last year, voters approved a $35.1 million budget with an overall 6.03 percent increase in local assessments.
For the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2013, the estimated total assessment for all eight district towns is an average 10.99 percent increase, or $1,864,089 more than this year.
“It’s come home to roost,” director Barry Patrie of Waterford said.
He and other directors discussed the ramifications of being assessed the full local share should a waiver not be approved. Officials say the possibility of getting another waiver is not good.
The local required share is based on two-year-old state certified property valuations and the state’s share, which is a projected base budget for General Purpose Aid.
School officials pondered whether they were too frugal in their budgeting to keep taxes down the past few years.
“It helped the communities, but at what price?” Colpitts asked.
Director Joe Vaillancourt of Otisfield said he believes the hard financial hit was caused by the district being too “frugal and conservative,” in its previous budgeting.
Otisfield may see a 15.17 percent or $290,125 increase in its assessment if a waiver is not approved.
Business Manager Cathy Fanjoy-Coffey said Wednesday school officials don’t know what the assessments will be for certain, but estimates on increases range from a low of 8.41 percent in Harrison to a high of 15.17 percent in Otisfield.
Oxford’s is projected at 12.46 percent, or $359,129. Last year it had a 0.02 percent increase, or $661.
Paris’ is projected to be 14.49 percent higher, or $343,600.
Norway, which last year had a 9.68 percent increase of $278,267, is expected to have a 9.04 increase of $285,177.
Waterford ‘s assessment is estimated to increase 8.77 percent, or $157,235.
Hebron’s is estimated at 10.45 percent, or $61,418 more than this fiscal year.
West Paris’ is an estimated 9.78 percent hike, or a $66,961 increase.
“We’re really hoping we get more time,” Fanjoy-Coffey said.
Adding to the problem is a State House announcement Monday by Maine Finance Commissioner Sawin Millett of Waterford recommending Gov. Paul LePage consider cutting state spending by $35.5 million to meet a budget shortfall.
School officials say that money is usually taken first from the Department of Health Services and the Department of Education.
Colpitts said budget work will begin in January. The Budget Committee will conduct its review from February though March and a preliminary budget presented to directors in April.
“There’s so many uncertainties about this,” Colpitts said.
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