A small group of about 38 residents spent just under an hour approving a $13.1 million spending plan for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Only a handful of questions were posed at the meeting and every warrant article was approved without a single vote in opposition, for the first time in at least the past six years.
The spending plan features a $282,653 increase in spending over last year. However, thanks to a large anticipated carryover balance, coupled with a one-time refund from the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, the actual tax impact next year is a decrease of almost $11,000.
Schneider, who is completing her first year as RSU 29’s superintendent, solicited the help of Charlie Anderson, a former colleague of hers from her time at SAD 1. Anderson is the former finance director for SAD 1.
“I have been so pleased to get to know this wonderful school system and to begin to become part of this terrific community,” Schneider said. “I am extremely proud of our exceptional teaching and support staff, including our dedicated cafeteria workers, bus drivers and custodians. We have terrific students who excel academically, artistically and athletically.”
In preparing the budget, Schneider said the district cut four teaching positions as the result of retirements or resignations, for a savings of about $259,000. No employees lost their jobs as a result of the eliminations.
Supplies and professional development line accounts were also reduced throughout the district, saving $175,000, Schneider said.
This year, RSU 29’s required local share is $3,274,627, with the state providing $8,798,163. The state contribution is down $237,011 from last year. The state’s “required local” share for RSU 29, or the money that the district must raise locally in order to receive state funding, has risen steadily over the past seven years as part of an ongoing shift of the state pushing more costs to the local taxpayers, Schneider said. This year, the required local share is $3,274,627 (an increase of $35,298).
“This has been another year for districts across the state to have the burden of finances pushed onto the local communities,” she said. “This board-approved budget shows a 2 percent increase over the current year, but the total impact is $10,700 less than the current budget.”
Part of the reason why RSU 29 was able to essentially have a flat tax impact budget for residents is because the district is receiving a one-time payout from the Maine Public Employees Retirement System in the amount of $299,225.
Because of changes to the state’s valuation for the communities of Houlton, Hammond, Littleton and Monticello which make up RSU 29, some towns will see an increase, while others will get a decrease.
Houlton should get a reduction of $8,000, while Littleton will see a decrease of $6,265. Hammond and Monticello, however, will experience slight increases of $1,396 and $2,157 respectively.
