SCHOOL BUDGET

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ARTICLES 1-18 to be voted on Tuesday, May 20th, 7pm at the School.

ARTICLE 1: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for Regular Instruction.

School Committee Recommends: $2,650,260.

ARTICLE 2: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for Special Education.

School Committee Recommends: $895,156.

ARTICLE 3: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for Other Instruction.

School Committee Recommends: $74,216.

ARTICLE 4: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for Student and Staff Support.

School Committee Recommends: $203,000.

ARTICLE 5: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for System Administration.

School Committee Recommends: $215,168.

ARTICLE 6: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for School Administration.

School Committee Recommends: $149,536.

ARTICLE 7: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for Transportation and Buses.

School Committee Recommends: $211,082.

ARTICLE 8: To see what sume the school administrative unit will be authorized to sepend for Facilities Maintenance.

School Committee Recommends: $404,258.

ARTICLE 9: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for Debt Service and Other Commitments.

School Committee Recommends: $209,468.

ARTICLE 10: To see what sum the school administrative unit will be authorized to expend for All Other Expenditures.

School Committee Recommends: $124,910.

ARTICLE 11: To see what sum the municipality will appropriate for the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act ( Recommend $3,643,804 - Who's recommendation?) and to see what sum the municipality will raise as the municipality's contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15688. (This is the only Article that needs to pass.)
School Committee Recommends: $3,362,277.

ARTICLE 12: Shall the Town of Acton raise and appropriate $1,493,250 in additional local funds, which exceeds the State's Essential Programs and Services allocation model by $1493,250 as required to fund the budget recommended by the Acton School Committee?

School Committee Recommends: NO RECOMMENDATION

ARTICLE 13: To see what sum the municipality/district/unit will authorize the school committee to expend for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2008 and ending June 30,2009 from the school administrative unit's contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act, non-state-funded school construction projects, additional local funds for school purposes under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 15690, unexpended balances, tuition receipts, state subsidy, and other receipts for the support of schools.

School Committee Recommends: $5,137,054. This is the total school budget the administration is asking for. It includes the ESP (State's recommendation) and the $1,493,250 over & above that amount.

ARTICLE 14: To see if the Town will appropriate the receipt of certain Federal and State Grants and carry any previous balances for the Special Revenue Accounts:

School Committee Recommends: Adoption of Article

ARTICLE 15: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate any unanticipated school related revenues, such as reimbursements, grant, donations, building use fees or awards that are not part of the school operating budget, subject to the approval of the School Committee.

School Committee Recommends: Adoption of Article.

ARTICLE 16: To see if the Town will authorize any undesignated balances in the school accounts, to go into a reserve account to be used only for school purposes.

School Committee Recommends: Adoption of Article (This is governed by State Law)

ARTICLE 17: To see if the Town will authorize the transfer of funds from one account to another with a 4/5 vote of the School Committee.

School Committee Recommends: Adoption of Article

ARTICLE 18: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the following Revenues, Balances Carried and Fund Transfers, to cover the expenditures appropriated in the previous articles. Remaining funding required to be raised by taxation.
School Undesignated Fund Balance $ 14,269
School Nutrition Revenues 65,000
General Purpose Aid (estimated) $ 281,527
State Agency 10,000
Medicaid 50,000

School Committee Recommends: Adoption of Article

On Tuesday, May 27th (changed from June 3rd), 8am - 8pm, at the Town Hall, we will have a secret referendum vote on the following question:

"Do you favor approving the Acton School Department budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the latest municipal school unit budget meeting and that includes locally raised funds that exceed the required local contribution as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act?" (Budget will be set at the May 20th Meeting.)

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I downloaded the data on the Maine Department of Education Website for the 07/08 Essential Programs & Services. I found it interesting that Acton was 26% over EPS whereas the State average was only 2%. Sanford was -3%, Arundel was 7%, SAD 57 (Massabesic) was 0%, SAD 60 was 2%, Biddeford was -4%, Saco was 3%.

Are our students that much smarter or that much better off than the students at these other schools?

If all of the new department budgets are passed, the town treasurer estimates the new tax rate will be $11.50/thousand of evaluation compared with the $8.90/thousand we now pay.

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FACT SHEET for 2008 – 2009 Acton School Budget
2008-2009 Local Required funding to be raised for Education - $3,643,804.

Acton is over the State’s recommended EPS funding amount by 26%.

State says Acton needs 17 Regular Classroom Teachers; we have 24.4.

State says Acton needs 2.8 Classroom Educational Technicians; we have 4.

State says it should cost taxpayers $5863 to educate one student; State average is $6851 per student. It is costing the taxpayers of Acton between $11,000-$12,000 per student.

School Committee wants 4% increase in Superintendent’s Salary to $55,487, plus $16,333 for (100%) group health insurance, plus $1,113 for Superintendent’s Benefits. The Superintendent only works part-time (2 ½ days/week).

School’s Legal fees to increase by 25% to $5000

School Committee wants 4% increase in Principal’s Salary to $75,112, plus $13,613 for (100%) group health insurance, plus $1472 for Principal’s Benefits. The Principal only works part-time (210 days/year).

School Committee wants 59.4% increase in Library Ed Tech’s Salary to $13,965; plus 936.7% increase in benefits. Library Ed Tech works part-time.

School Committee wants 49.5% increase in Teacher Tuition for Special Ed; 67.4% increase in testing; 92.4% increase in S.E. Ed Tech Salaries; 167.3% increase in Ed Tech Benefits; 140% increase in Ed Tech group health insurance.

School Committee wants 106.1% increase in S.E. Secretary’s group health insurance; although they cut the salary by 13.5%; 22.5% increase in Tuition for S.E. students to attend Private Schools; 66.7% increase for summer transportation for S.E. students.

Under 11 separate accounts, the School Committee wants 399.8% increase ($51,985) for funds to repair & maintain equipment. Does not include 40% increase ($7000) for bus maintenance; does not include computer software maintenance & technology equipment repairs ($5000).

11 Teachers make between $50,000 & $60,000 per year plus have 100% health insurance coverage, plus 17 have stipends.

Acton was 26% over EPS whereas the State average was only 2%. Sanford was -3%, Arundel was 7%, SAD 57 was 0%, SAD 60 was 2%, Biddeford was -4%, Saco was 3%. Are our students that much smarter or that much better off than the students at these other schools.

VOTE NO ARTICLES 1-10

VOTE YES ARTICLE 11 to provide for quality education in Acton

VOTE NO ARTICLE 12 to keep taxes affordable in Acton

AMEND ARTICLE 13 TO $ 3,643,804