FORT KENT, Maine – About 50 people attended MSAD 27’s annual budget meeting on Monday, approving a $16.5 million spending plan. The budget represents a total additional $429,404 in local taxes that will be spread across the district’s towns of Fort Kent, New Canada, St. Francis, St. John and Wallagrass.
The combined tax impact for all parts of the budget on MSAD 27 communities is $5.9 million. Last year, that number was $5.47 million.
The budget represents an overall 6.4 percent increase over the previous year, or an additional $992,320.
This total includes $864,015 for the school nutrition program and $364,960 for the continuing education program. The total cost of funding for pre-kindergarten to grade 12 is $9.68 million. All towns in the district need to raise a combined total of $2.62 million in order to receive the remainder via state funding.
One resident asked for clarification on these numbers, and MSAD 27 Superintendent Ben Sirois explained that this is the amount each community needs to raise in order to qualify for state funding.
“Fort Kent’s share is to raise $1.8 million, and in doing that the state is going to cover the balance, which is almost $5 million,” he said. “It’s the only way to get that money from the state, is for the towns to raise what’s required.”
Voters at the meeting also approved via written ballot an item for $2.9 million in additional local funding, which is a part of the total $16.5 million budget. This funding exceeds the state’s funding formula, which the school says does not provide for the actual costs of operating expenses or the full costs of several items including special education, substitute teachers and increased heating and energy costs.
This item passed with 38 in favor and six opposed.
The same resident also questioned the transportation and buses cost center, which increased by $47,675 this year, or from $878,765 to $927,440. The resident asked why the school needed to continue to keep and maintain big buses when they were frequently empty.
Sirois said the school’s buses are rarely empty and the only other alternative to a regular school bus is a minibus, which is close to the same price. He said the school often completely fills its buses during regular trips, adding that the buses have reserved seats for students whose parents frequently drive them to school, in case the parent is unavailable and they may need to instead take the bus.
The largest increase this year was in regular instruction, which increased from $6.02 million to $6.51 million. Sirois, in a note to community members included in the budget book, said these increases were made so the district could focus on recruiting and retaining teachers and staff in the region amid difficult economic times. Sirois, in the note, said the district is also working on collaborating with other districts to share services and potentially save money.
Aside from a few brief audience questions, all items passed quickly and the meeting concluded within half an hour. The budget will still need to go to voters for final approval during the June 10 election.
The election will be held in Fort Kent’s town office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the community centers in New Canada, St. Francis, and St. John Plantation from 2 to 6 p.m., and at the Wallagrass Community Center from noon to 6 p.m.
