SAD 1 to present
$22.9 million budget to voters May 17
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Despite large losses of state and federal aid, SAD 1 officials are presenting a 2011-12 budget that keeps programming intact for another year.
At last Wednesday night’s board meeting, Superintendent Gehrig Johnson discussed the proposed $22,960,050 budget, which represents an increase of 2.6 percent over 2010-11.
“If this proposal is approved, we will reduce the local K-12 education mill rate based on state property valuations and on our July 1-June 30 fiscal year from 10.42 to 9.87 mills for district municipalities,” said Johnson. “Because state valuations have risen year-over-year by an average of about 6.5 percent for our five municipal members, we will be asking for an increase in local property tax dollars of $64,747 or about 0.9 percent based on our fiscal year. The city of Presque Isle will see no increase in the bill from SAD 1 if the proposal passes.”
Castle Hill residents would see a 2011-12 property tax levy of $229,091, an increase of $757 over last year; Chapman — $273,033 (up $25,411), Mapleton — $1,166,687 (an increase of $44,829) and Westfield would see a decrease of $6,250 down to $270,565.
“Those numbers are based on state valuations; we don’t have anything to do with it,” said Johnson. “The state is saying, for example, that the value of the town of Mapleton is growing faster than the rest of the communities. Homes are selling for more than they are in the other communities.”
Johnson explained that loss of state funding continues to present a “substantial challenge” for the district.
“Next year we will suffer a loss of $860,181 in state aid,” he said. “Since state aid to schools crested in 2008-09 at about $14.5 million, we have dealt with annual reductions to the point where next year’s subsidy is $1.8 million less than it was just three years ago. In addition, we will lose $130,039 in federal funds.
“We will be eliminating three teaching positions and three support positions through attrition to help reduce expenses,” said Johnson. “We will also be tapping some of the cash reserves we have set aside in recent years to help address the continuing budget hurdles we — and all school units in Maine — are facing.”
District budget approval requires a two-step process. In addition to a district-wide budget meeting, which will be held May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Presque Isle High School cafeteria, the district is required to hold a budget validation referendum in each of the district’s five municipalities. The validation referendum will be held May 17.
“We were proud to be named recently as a high performing and cost efficient district,” said Johnson, “and we will strive to maintain our tradition of excellence in all of our programs and schools.”
It was also announced during the meeting that Jay Blackstone, who currently teaches seventh grade English/social studies at Presque Isle Middle School, will be transferred to Mapleton Elementary School next year where he will teach third grade. He will replace Jill Brown who is retiring.
Two teachers have completed one year of satisfactory teaching in the district and were reappointed for the 2011-12 school year. They include Rosalie Sullivan (English) at PIHS and Leah Gagnon (special education) at Presque Isle Middle School.
The following teachers have completed two years of satisfactory teaching and were reappointed for the 2011-12 school year to a continuing contract: Mary Warren (guidance counselor) and Joseph Greaves (science) at PIHS, Erin Hoffses (PIMS), Doreen Archer (grade two) at Pine Street Elementary School, Amy Spinning (grade four) and Laura Hunter (special education) at Zippel Elementary School, and Spencer Bragan (building trades) at the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center.
The next regular SAD 1 board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 in the Presque Isle High School board conference room.
