District decision is tomorrow at 5 p.m. at PIHS cafeteria
Officials with School Administrative District 1 are looking forward to working with an approved budget for the 2016-17 school year soon and planning for the years to come.
Residents in Castle Hill, Chapman, Mapleton, Presque Isle and Westfield will be asked to approve the third budget proposal from SAD1 on Sept. 13, after rejecting two previous spending packages.
With $24.59 million in total spending, 2.4 percent more than last year’s budget, the latest budget would bring a 1.8 percent increase in the five communities annual tax assessment, or a 0.9 percent increase for the average municipal year.
The budget’s overall increase this year, of 2.4 percent, is less than last year’s, and continues existing teaching positions, without any increases in class sizes, said Clinton Deschene, assistant superintendent for business at SAD 1. Amid declining enrollment and increasing costs, district officials and the board are moving toward addressing long-term challenges in the coming years, including right-sizing buildings, Deschene said.
Contracted increases in salaries and benefits will account for much of the next year’s new spending, with more than $375,000 together devoted to wages and benefits. The district is also projecting to save $66,000 this budget year in facilities maintenance and $61,000 in transportation costs.
The budget does not include all-day kindergarten, something Superintendent Brian Carpenter worked to have adopted and the board previously discussed saving for.
High school students returned to class on August 17, with pre-K-8 starting Sept. 1. The 2016-17 district budget meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at the Presque Isle High School cafeteria, before the Sept. 13 validation referendum.
