FARMINGTON — A new state law gives towns until 2016-17 to raise 100 percent of the local required allocation under the state’s essential programs school funding formula to receive the full state subsidy.
The law, LD 667, gives the towns three years to reach 100 percent, RSU 9 Superintendent Tom Ward told the school board Tuesday.
The 100 percent local contribution was waived several years ago when the state was not fulfilling its 55 percent funding obligation for education.
RSU 9 towns need to raise an estimated $664,473 more to meet the law’s requirement by 2016-17, he said. Several factors go into the formula for local allocation, including town valuations and general purpose aid.
It is not as bad as it could have been, Ward said. The local contributions to the two new building projects at the Mallett School and Mt. Blue High School/Foster Technical Center campus in Farmington and contribution to the district’s share of the state teacher retirement cost have helped the towns get closer to the goal, he said.
He recommends raising about $200,000 more each year to get to where the district needs to be to get the maximum benefit from the state under the EPS formula.
Ward plans to meet with each of the 10 towns to explain the situation and what needs to be done.
His first meeting is with the Farmington Board of Selectmen at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Town Office.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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