PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The MSAD 1 board of directors is working with its first budget proposal in several years that does not include an increase in local property taxes.
The board met on April 3 for its first budget workshop, where interim superintendent Gehrig Johnson, department leaders and board members discussed the 2019-2020 budget proposal.
The board has scheduled a regular meeting and approval of budget and warrant articles for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the board conference room at the high school. The budget will again appear at a district budget meeting on May 8 and then go to voters for a validation referendum on May 21.
The $25.15 million budget would represent an increase in total revenue of $358,000, or 1.4 percent, over the current budget, but would not increase local taxes. The bulk of the additional revenue, or $329,000, comes from additional state funding.
“For this year, I think this makes sense and it should be accepted by the public,” Johnson said.
Johnson added that the 2020-2021 budget situation also looks good from the standpoint of rising state funding. At the same time, he said, there are ongoing legislative discussions about the possibility of raising the minimum starting teacher’s salary to $40,000 and whether additional state money should be earmarked for that.
“All that’s still to be decided.”
The meeting also featured presentations about aspects of the budget by department leaders including special education director Megan Stanley, operations supervisor Robert Gagnon, technology director Daren Hunter, and career and technical education director Tim Prescott.
Stanley described how 18 percent of MSAD 1’s students receive special education services, a percentage that mirrors the state average. She added that the district is seeing more students who need occupational, speech and language therapy.
Gagnon and the board discussed the issue of the roof at Pine Street Elementary School, which is expected to cost approximately $75,000 through Powers Roofing to repair. Gagnon said the roof includes nine locations where there are leaks and moisture problems, though none leading to walls. The repaired sections of the roof will be guaranteed by the company for 30 years, he said.
Zippel Elementary is also slated to have replacements of ceiling tiles with asbestos this summer as part of district-wide maintenance and abatement work, Gagnon said.
Johnson also told the board that the district is planning to hire an assistant principal for the middle school. Former assistant principal Barbara Bartlett took over the position of principal after the retirement of Ann Blanchard.
