DYER BROOK, Maine — The RSU 50 school board got its first look at a proposed $5.6 million budget for the 2020-21 school year Monday, April 13.
Conducting its board meeting via the online app Zoom, business manager Holly Vining presented the board with the details of next year’s spending package, which features a rise of $181,545 (3.3 percent) over last year’s plan.
Exactly when voters in the seven communities that make up RSU 50 will have their say on the budget though remains a question mark. Under the current COVID-19 state of emergency declared by Gov. Janet Mills, hosting a district budget meeting may not be possible in the traditional sense since public gatherings are not currently allowed.
RSU 50 Superintendent Jon Porter said the district was still trying to work out the details of how the budget will be presented to the public. The school board is expected to vote on the spending plan at its May 11 meeting.
As presented, RSU 50’s budget for next year will be $5,689,349, which is up from the current spending plan of $5,507,804.
The district is receiving an additional $126,359 from the state in the form of its education subsidy, but must come up with $1,540,455 for its local share in order to receive that money. The required local amount is up $2,660 over last year.
Because the district’s budget exceeds the state and local amounts determined by the state’s essential programs and services formula, an extra $948,025 is needed in additional local funds from the taxpayers.
A 3.2 percent increase in wages for staff is one of the larger factors driving the increased budget. The salaries were negotiated as part of the district’s collective bargaining agreement. In addition, the state increased the minimum teacher salary from $30,000 to $35,000.
Another area seeing an increase next year is special education, up $40,501 to accommodate a full-time special education director and full-time behavior room teacher. Both positions were part-time last year.
The district’s administration budget is also up $48,765 to allow for improvements in software packages and the creation of a new district app for mobile devices. The last software update for human resources was 16 years ago.
Exactly what impact the budget will have on the seven communities is as follows: Crystal, $218,616 (up $3,782); Dyer Brook, $231,554 (up $3,552); Hersey, $114,391 (up $26,753); Island Falls, $897,965 (up $30,220); Merrill, $191,424 (up $2,712); Oakfield, $586,968 (up $20,641); and Smyrna, $280,804 (up $6,778).
Porter noted that the district was on point when comparing the average per pupil expense. The statewide average for 2018-19 was $12,443 per student, with RSU 50’s cost coming in at $12,433.
