TURNER — The Maine School Administrative District 52 board of directors approved a revised $30.2 million school budget last week, after their first proposal was rejected by voters.
The revised budget is $105,127 less than the first proposal of $30.3 million, reducing the overall tax impact from 2.81% to 1.99%.
Under the revised budget, owners of a property assessed at $200,000 will pay $54 more for school taxes this year in Greene, $86 more in Leeds and $28 more in Turner.
More than half of the school budget will be funded by state subsidies. Residents of Greene, Leeds and Turner would be responsible for providing $13 million under the revised proposal.
The local share for each town is determined by its percentage of the total state valuation of the three towns combined. Turner, which contains 48% of the total valuation among the three towns, is responsible for collecting 48% of the local school funding.
Leeds had the largest percent increase in its state valuation among the three towns this year, which has resulted in the largest school tax increase among the three towns.
Members of the school board were provided with a list of possible budget cuts recommended by school administrators last Tuesday. Ultimately, the board voted 7-1 to adopt the revised budget. Director Kyle Purington of Greene voted in opposition and said he thought the budget should be reduced beyond a 2% overall tax impact.
Chairwoman Elizabeth Bullard said in an email that the potential cuts were arranged beginning with items that would affect day-to-day student activities the least.
The list of budget cuts includes:
• Robots for a robotics course at Leavitt Area High School
• A district social worker stipend, which will not be needed next year
• Some district printing costs
• Soccer goals at the high school
• A new scoreboard for Tripp Middle School
• NWEA testing, a standardized assessment test, in kindergarten
• A new conference table and new chairs for Greene Central School
• Office of the assistant superintendent supplies
• A new gas tank
• Funds to start a Unified Bocce team
• One new school bus
• A reduction in contracted services at the high school
Additions to the budget, including three instructional coaches, a districtwide school psychologist, and a second gifted and talented teacher, remain. The instructional coaches are intended to help address learning gaps and behavior at Greene Central School, Leeds Central School and Tripp Middle School in Turner.
“Board members’ discussion acknowledged the financial stress our communities are feeling with continued high inflation, as well as the need to respond effectively to student needs especially around learning loss and behavior as we move past the pandemic and to continue to support our staff as per existing contracts,” Bullard wrote in an email to the Sun Journal on Tuesday.
Residents voted 146-93 May 19 to send the $30.3 million proposal back to school officials for revision. None of the three towns voted to approve the budget.
Comments from residents on Facebook and at two emergency school board meetings following the referendum indicated that some officials needed to trim the budget further in light of rapidly rising expenses. Others said they forgot to vote or didn’t know the referendum was taking place.
School officials will hold a district budget meeting at 6 p.m. June 9 at Tripp Middle School where district residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and vote on the budget. Residents can either vote to approve or amend the total amount allocated for each of the 18 articles.
A second vote will be held June 14 together with municipal and primary elections.
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