SAD 70 budget up 2.9 percent

14 years ago

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer

    HODGDON — Faced with decreased state subsidy for education, taxpayers in SAD 70 (Amity, Cary, Haynesville, Hodgdon, Linneus, Ludlow and New Limerick) may see a slight increase in their tax bills next year.
    A public hearing on the school budget will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in Hodgdon High School’s gymnasium.
    Faced with an already “bare bones” budget, according to Superintendent Bob McDaniel, the district was left with little choice when putting together next year’s school budget. As presented, the 2011-12 budget of $6,238,644 is up $180,000 (2.9 percent) from last year. Because the district is receiving less money from the state, the actual increase to taxpayers is $209,557.
    It marks the first time in three years that the district has presented a fiscal document that featured an increase over the previous year. Last year’s budget of $6,058,644 featured a decrease of $190,205, while the 2009-10 plan had a decrease of $140,000.
    “Not only are we getting less money from the state, we have to raise more money to get that state funding,” McDaniel explained. “The EPS [Essential Programs and Services] is based on student population, which is down. Plus evaluations went up.”
    McDaniel said the district was able to decrease its budget last year due to a number of retirements.
    Unlike neighboring SAD 29, which has proposed numerous staffing cuts in its budget package, the SAD 70 plan calls for no reduction in staffing next year.
    Among the major increases is the need to purchase a new bus, estimated at about $82,000. The district will get some of that money back next year in the form of a state reimbursement. A major increase in the cost of fuel — both heating and gasoline/diesel — was another factor for the additional expenses.
    “We’re trying to keep the status quo as much as possible,” he said. “But we will be negotiating contracts this year for our teachers, ed techs and bus drivers. If we can negotiate a long-term contract, that would be ideal.”
    Modest increases in salaries, based on expectations from those negotiations, have been included in the proposed budget.
    The district will use $500,000 from its carryover account to help lessen the blow. Last year, the district used $205,500 from its carryover account.
    Because the district employs a referendum process for approving its budget, residents may only decrease line items in the budget. No increases can be made to the package as it’s presented.