[Update 12:16 PM – We’ve included the new assessment numbers, which can be found below]
FARMINGTON – Residents approved $33.9 million in expenditures at a three-hour-long budget meeting Tuesday evening, with a number of written ballots and amendments leading to an increase of $24,970 by the conclusion of the meeting. The budget now proceeds to a validation vote on Aug. 3.
The $33,929,507 budget approved Tuesday represents a $1.18 million increase over the previous fiscal year. As proposed, the budget would represent in a total tax assessment increase of $24,970, spread among all 10 towns.
That $24,970 represents a motion made from the floor to increase Article 1: Regular Instruction to increase the American Sign Language teaching position from half- to full-time. That increase was in the original budget voted down on June 6, but was cut after the school board made $344,524 in reductions on June 29. The district then received an additional $729,954 from the state as part of the new state budget; this, along with funds applied to reduce the impact of the budget on property tax assessments and pay for some capital projects that would have otherwise been bonded, resulted in $164,431 used to restore three positions.
The vote for that amendment, with 90 in favor and 50 opposed, was the closest of the night. A number of written votes were called for from the floor, with moderator Ron Aseltine utilizing a threshold of 10 percent of the present voters. Each vote resulted in the proposed amendment, with the exception of the ASL teacher amendment, being defeated by vote totals of roughly 30 or so voters in support versus 110-plus in opposition.
After a number of written ballots, a voter made a procedural motion to utilize the Robert’s Rules of Order threshold of 50 percent of the present voters to require a written ballot. That motion passed by a vote of 116 to 36. Other requests for a written ballot were then defeated by verbal votes.
Voters approved the board recommendations for Article 3: Career and Technical Education, Article 5: Student and Staff Support, and Article 9: Facilities Management; all of the changes represent the board’s use of the additional state funding. A total of $378,165 be applied to reduce property tax assessments, $164,431 for capital project expenditures that would replace previously-approved bond funding, and $186,358 to fund three positions: two social workers and restoring the combined student services coordinator/high school guidance counselor as two separate positions.
The social workers would divide their time throughout the district, working with regular instruction students, while the student services coordinator/guidance counselor consolidation was attempted a year ago and reportedly hasn’t worked; Superintendent Tom Ward listed that as the top priority out of the positions cut a few weeks ago. Ward has noted that the district has also requested that the state pick up the reimbursement of the student services coordinator for Foster Tech quicker than the typical, two-year delay due to the position only being vacant for a single year. The state reimburses Foster Tech expenditures at slightly above 100 percent.
The capital project expenditures would replace some of the $318,000 worth of projects that MBRSD town residents approved to be bonded at the June vote, leaving the district with a need to borrow only $152,000 to complete the district’s project list.
The $24,970 increase changes the town property tax assessment numbers, which can see in their original form here. With the increase, the town of Chesterville would see a $25,168 increase to $961,254 as compared to the previous fiscal year, the town of Farmington would see an $60 increase to $4,627,770 , the town of Industry would see a $30,584 increase to $839,185, New Sharon would see a $2,583 decrease to $ 1,022,416, New Vineyard would see a $11,773 increase to $717,248, Starks would see a $30,518 increase to $389,210, Temple would see a $11,258 decrease to $429,016.08, Vienna would see a $2,079 increase to $701,838, Weld would see a $9,429 decrease to $461,058 and Wilton would see a $51,941 decrease to $2,837,912.
The budget now moves to an Aug. 3 validation referendum, asking voters if they approved of the action taken at the budget meeting. That referendum will be held in all 10 towns.
Of course it did! And even better, it was increased!!
Please vote NO on Aug 3rd!
Ok folks don’t forget to vote on aug 3… no will be my vote
Another Million dollar increase! What are they thinking! This is fiscally irresponsible,plain and simple this process is only benefiting the employees and snubbing the taxpayers. This million dollars will have 0 effect on test scores This is so out of touch with where the area is economically, please again vote no.
There were many respectable motions made to reduce the cost centers through out the Annual Budget Meeting.
They were all voted on democratically by those in attendance.
The meeting was held as an open forum that was well advertised. Any resident of the district was welcome to attend. Those that wanted to vote on these issues were present that night and let their voice be heard.
The increase to the first cost center, was a residents motion. It came from the growing support and popularity of the American Sign Language course at Mt. Blue. It passed because it is supported in our community.
It was a very long evening as multiple attempts were made to filibuster. But, those that stayed in attendance for the entire meeting, did so because they felt strongly about the budget. That was seen on both sides. In the end, the budget was approved by the majority in attendance. We will have to see if the referendum vote will agree with the Annual Budget Meeting.
Those that have commented that they will be voting yes or no, thank you for letting everyone else know your vote. It will be relevant on August 3rd.
There is a misconception being propagated that the budget process has no foresight. It’s just not true. The school board and administration discuss projections. We discuss preparation. We discuss contingencies. We discuss the future.
There will always be variables out of our control; State Budgets, Federal Regulations, Economic Growth, Poverty growth and reduction, Residential Interests, Citizen Concerns, Student Needs, Educational Standards, and the list goes on and on. Every year these factors change. Sometimes they change on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis. And those that our communities have voted in to office have to be able to constantly reassess.
The budget that was brought before our towns this year, meets our needs this year. And it does so with a 0% tax assessment to our property owners. It also, pays down on the debt that our towns have approved.
Will this budget be the same next year? I can’t promise you that. But, that doesn’t mean I suggest an increase, or a decrease. It just means I can’t promise you that we will need the same amount.
I can tell you that due to the increased revenue from the citizen initiated referendum Question 2, the State has a substantial increase in it’s revenue. This revenue has been ear marked for education. The citizens did that. They did that because they knew we needed to fund education in a more sustainable manner.
There was great debate in Augusta as to whether or not the funding would be allowed to be applied to the education cost center, as it was originally designed. But, in the end the State has agreed to portion money from it. There is still further debate to be had about the improper use of money that was collected for a specific intent. But, that is a discussion for another day.
The State is perhaps willing to see this money added to the funding of education, because they see further revenue on the horizon. Question 1 from the 2016 referendum vote, will be seeing great tax revenue generation in 2018.
Whatever the reason is that the State has decided to participate in proportionally paying their obligations to the Schools, we appreciate. Their reduction in funding has been a very negative variable in our budget planning. That has induced an unneeded weight on the local property owners.
Those that argue that we can not predict the future level of contributions from the State, I would argue, neither can you. My forecast of their participation is a lot more optimistic. I will do my best to prepare for the worst but address the needs of our schools in the mean time.
“…due to the increased revenue from the citizen-initiated referendum Question 2, the State has a substantial increase in its revenue. This revenue has been ear-marked for education. The citizens did that. They did that because they knew we needed to fund education in a more sustainable manner.”
Hallelujah!
3 things that stuck with me from last night:
1. While a flat budget would be great and many people do not receive annual cost of living increases, when talking about a school budget there are many many many THINGS that must be purchased every year and we can do NOTHING about those rising costs, therefore we can never expect a truly flat budget. Schools that are doing that this year are doing it at a serious detriment.
2. Obstruction for obstructions sake. Wanting to maintain last year’s budget, but not having any suggestions of what they think is unessential.
Perhaps they don’t realize that the increases are not pulled out of thin air, but come directly from submitted costs of necessary items, increases in insurance premiums, and increases in contracted salaries.
3. Calling a $500,000 cut to special Ed modest, are you kidding me??
I leave you with this, I hope that you are as involved in all of your local government’s spending and not only in an uproar over the school. Saying that our local economy just can’t support it, in light of other seemingly frivolous spending, is highly hypocritical. Be thankful that this year the state is contributing enough that it won’t greatly impact the check written at the end of the year.
RSU9 has become the “mecca” for special needs students under the current administation. Look at the figures
year after year. Look at the growing population of special needs students MOVING into the district. The word
is out that RSU9 is spending big money on special needs instruction and hiring more staff every year. These
families are leaving other districts and coming to ours. The administration has repeatedly stated that they are
billing DHHS or MaineCare for monies to offset the extra costs associated with special needs and they have
also suggested that one day we will make a profit doing this. But that day has never come. The admins. claim
that we are billing more each year for special needs, but we never see a decrease in any expense column.
The budget goes up $1million plus every year and special needs is a significant portion. We are a poor
community with no large industries. We can not afford to be the hub for allllllllll things related to special needs
students. I have no ill will to the schools or students or teachers or special needs individuals. I use common
sense in my approach. Some readers have suggested that the school budget must go up every year due to
certain fixed costs. That may be true, but our increases are substancially driven by new hires and the related
benefits. Most of the new hires are for the special needs students. That must stop. We must stop the growth
of that department!!! No more new staff this year!!!! Vote NO until the admin and school board get it!!!!!
Please get the word out to alllllll the taxpayers, VOTE NO!!!!!
Maybe it would be more cost effective if we did smaller schools in each town….
Couldn’t you get some Seniors to help out with the special needs people, one on one and be a model for them.
We need to start thinking outside the box and I sod bet LePage would like that.
Go to the classifieds on the Bulldog under positions a ailable and look at the openings RSU 9 has listed. I’m pretty sure all the Ed tech positions trying to be filled aren’t because they left the district for better pay elsewhere.
We all have the right to one vote on the budget, yes or no.
Not sure why the insults etc fly back and forth. You can’t only like
democracy when it works your way/desired result. Everybody has the right
to vote yes or no. Stop demonizing you fellow citizens and the process.
It’s really a simple brilliant system-stop over complicating a one person, one vote
system. It has worked a long time and will continue to work.
@ Far North don’t forget we have begun the move away from that, now we are going rank choice voting. It’s more progressive…..
I would like to clarify some misinformation stated by Mike Deschenes regarding special education in RSU-9. I would like to remind the public that federal special education laws require school districts to provide students with special needs with a free, appropriate public education, in the least restrictive environment.
I wholeheartedly disagree that RSU-9 is a “mecca” with droves of families moving in just for our special education services. This is a statement that I have heard in meetings, in comments and elsewhere and it is just. not. true. We have students entering kindergarten each year that have been identified as needing special services, those students represent an “added” cost. Sure students move in that need special education services, but we also add families with typical students. Having a good school system is a factor for any family with children who are considering a move. I want my typically developing child and my special needs child to both have quality education. When companies recruit employees, having a good school system is a draw.
The bottom line is that schools have a responsibility to educate the students who come to school, whether those are students who need gifted and talented programming, a Foster Tech program, regular ed classes or special needs programs. My child with special needs who attends any school, in any state in the nation has the same rights under federal law. If I move to Cape Elizabeth they will have to follow his IEP (Individualized Education Plan which is decided as a team and must be followed, by law). If I move to Caribou or Camden or Millinocket, the law does not change. RSU 9 does a good job meeting the needs of children who need special education services, and I am incredibly proud of that. We do so because it’s the law but also because it’s the right thing to do.
We have built a quality day treatment program that can now bill for Mainecare reimbursement. This was a long process and there were a lot of pieces that needed to be in place in order to bill. Even if we never got a dime from Mainecare it was still a smart thing to do. Building a program that meets the needs of students saves money in costly out of district placements, it is better for students, families and the school. Whatever level of services the child needs we are always working toward the least restrictive environment, that progress really does happen. A child who needs 1:1 ed tech support in Kindergarten may be able to work independently at a later date. This is progress for the child and requires less from the district.
Special education will always be a large portion of the school budget and I promise you that billing Mainecare will never “turn a profit”, it was never intended or advertised to do so. I’m not sure where people got the idea that we are the “hub for all things related to special students”. We are a large district that covers 10 towns, we are the hub for that in general. There is nothing being offered to special education students that is “fancy” or “extra”. They would have the same rights, and schools have the same responsibilities, in Jay or Skowhegan or wherever. Students are provided with what they need to be successful. For some students who are considered “special ed” students they may not need a 1:1 ed tech, they might need an accommodation that allows them more time to take a test, or physical accommodations like use of the elevator. They might need extra support in math or reading. They might need to sit up front so they can focus, they might need any number of things. It’s about providing the tools or accommodations so that all students can be successful.
There is federal law that mandates that schools recognize that these students are real people who deserve an education and it does so because there are people in the world who would like “those kids” to go away and stop costing more.
I’m with Mike.
Great news – no tax increases due to the school budget!
No one can claim the district is overspending. The budget is frugal – compare it to other districts, both state wide and in the region. We spend less per pupil, and our salaries are below average (both state wide and in the region – including other districts with economic conditions no better than ours).
There is no reason to vote no. Special education costs have hit the district, but that’s true for every district, not just ours. Voting no to a budget that decreases the bond voters approved, and has NO TAX INCREASE makes no sense. Some people have a grudge against the school district. But the only ones who will suffer are the students not getting as high a quality of education. The school board won’t suffer. The RSU 9 Administration won’t be hurt. It’s time for people to take a look inside, a look at the data, and really think about their values. Look at this all with an open mind, please.
Thank you Tami. Your words are worth repeating.
“There is federal law that mandates that schools recognize that these students are real people who deserve an education and it does so because there are people in the world who would like “those kids” to go away and stop costing more.”
As for my thoughts, I find it sickening that so many people want to kick the legs out from under our local school system. Taxes are certainly not my idea of fun, but at least we get something locally for our money — a better educated community and a draw for new families to the area — both of which our local economy needs to survive.
MBRSD employees pay the same taxes and spend many of their dollars locally, so why the big problem with the “no” voters letting everyone (read: MBRSD staff) have their say?
Too many years of this ridiculous negativity and the “no” voters may actually get their way with the added benefit of worse schools and quality teachers being driven away.
@ Mike Deschenes… as a parent that has a child with special needs I’m pretty disgusted with your lack of respect toward the entire situation . First, I highly doubt any family flock to our district to get out special need services considering we’re not considered one of the better schools for it . Second, schools are non profits so how will they make a profit off our special needs kids services just because they bill the DHHS system.
Mike you evidently need to go register yourself as s volunteer in the special needs department and get yourself some hands on with how a day with these kids what the staff do for these kids. It may bring some empathy into your life . Stop pin pointing the money issue on special needs children. Have you’ve just become aware we have so many . FYI my son doesn’t attend there YET because he’s in a private preschool getting services so we’ll be FLOCKING over next year!
These children need met at a intense level at a young age and it may be more costly but that’s what makes healthier adults. Get educated about it Mike.
Just move OUT of the district. I lived there 28 years . Couldn’t take the high taxes, AND how badly the town i lived in was run/managed. MOVE OUT. than watch what happens.
Scott Erb, it states at the end of this article the amount of increases and decreases per town.
I’m wondering how much better my kids education will be now that we are spending an extra million again this year? As Steve just said a no vote keeps them from getting a high quality education. Does that mean if the budget stayed the same they wouldn’t get a quality education ? I guess we short changed our kids last year !!! It doesn’t matter where the money comes from for the budget, state, local, federal, its still tax payers paying it. The more we get from others the more stress it puts on the working class that already struggle and the elderly that have fixed incomes.
The extra money from the state was to lower local property taxes not to spend even more money! It just proves RSU 9 has no intention of ever cutting spending even when the state gives more. How come they only mention rising costs? What about diesel and gas prices coming down the last couple of years? Where’s that money going?
Following this years public discourse about the school budget is like watching staged reality show acting. Seems very hypocritical for some to only focus on the schools when there were local town and and county budget increases that directly raise your taxes. New town positions, parking lots, jail increases, public service incremental raises… Most is necessary but some were optional.
I’m wondering how much better your kids education will be now that we lost two principles (see new article). In the education field it’s called a sideways shift and is mostly about better pay or just tired of being attacked for being educated and doing a community service based job that is a life choice and not just a paycheck.
I’ve been presented with the opportunity to apply for positions here in my community, the opportunity to be in a school with my own kids and all the great kids I know growing up here and maybe at some point I will make that sideways shift for a shorter commute and serve my community but my current position is in a great school with a supportive community and that is gold. Yes, we have the same budget debate and the same exact tax rhetoric of pitting public against admin and teachers, finger pointing, but the majority rule is supportive and actually involved in our schools success. And Yup, our budget increased this year due to special ed requirements. And yup, it was going to fall on local taxpayers because the State portion was still unknown but that may have also changed….And yes, my district me pays more$ than Mt Blue offers…And yes, my teaching practice reviews are in highly effective proficiency scale.
You do loose the best people when the public discourse becomes overly aggressive and nonsensical. (I’m not saying that you shouldn’t question the process but loosing civility over the issue is just intended to be destructive and there are always long term unintended consequences to immediate gratification. I’m sure this sentiment will be followed by a slew of name calling and such…) It’s actually ironic that we approve new plow trucks based on a comparison to Skowheagan but and then loose two top positions. That gives the school less choice to select the best for the job and we are back to Jesse’s statement that his kids won’t have a better ed just by the $ amount. Yes, I absolutely agree. Money doesn’t make a kids education better but the people delivering it and the support and love of their parents and community do.
Quite frankly I see the problems in this community are a lack of really knowing what is happening in schools. My kids have received a decent education and had both great and not so great experiences with teachers and principles but it is all big picture the microcosm of our larger society. If you attack instead of use reason an logic to solve a problem you will most likely cut off your hands so you don’t have to buy gloves.
I fully understand the budget and tax issues at hand but also pay property, state, and fed taxes. I also know that this is a huge district with many schools buildings and staff. Community support is essential even if it’s just people asking for clarification because they really want to know how it works rather than being condescending just to make some nonissue a point.
Have a point, please discuss solutions and voice your thoughts carefully and with good intentions. If we make it a place to work out anger issues you will continue to loose good people and push our kids away. I can’t imagine wanting to work in this climate.
Again, look at all of your towns spending that effects the rise in taxes, the schools serve eight towns not one.
Good luck and God Bless.
Bad news, a $1.18 million increase over last year! BAD NEWS a budget of almost $34 MILLION. GOOD NEWS we still have the AUGUST 3 referendum to vote NO, NO, NO and until FRIDAY , JULY 28 to vote NO by absentee ballot.
Scott,
i must admit that you are amusing!! You constantly spout facts and figures and claims that are false. Did you
actually read this article??? The last paragraph gives the real data. You are on the school board so you should
already know this DATA. I will repeat it for you now. More than half of the ten towns will see a TAX INCREASE
from this budget (6 out of 10, which is 60% using my 1979 Skowhegan math). The increase is small in a few
towns, but still an increase. Second topic. You also love to use the funky math that the Maine Dept of Ed. likes
to use for “spending per student”. I looked very carefully at this data myself last year. When the state does
these calculations they delete alllllll money spent on transportation, maintenance, dept payments, improvements
to real property, and other stuff. But these are all real expenses that come out of our taxpayer pockets. The
true costs per student is a very simple “old school” calculation. Our district had 2338 students last year, but i
will round up a bit to make it simple. $33.9million divided by 2350 students = $14,425 per student. This is the
true costs to educate our students if this budget is passed. I’m still looking for a taxpayer that believes the data
issued from the Maine Dept of Ed. website.
Wonder what would happen if EVERYONE decided not to pay their taxes in the fall? Towns wouldn’t’ have the money to fund the schools. They’d be doing some scrambling then….
You tell ’em Nancy! That will surely get the job done!!!
Then again Nancy, we wouldn’t have a police dept. or fire dept. or waste dept. geez we wouldn’t have any town services. Guess not paying taxes in the fall would affect to many things. Darnit.
And meanwhile the President’s proposed National Budget cuts 9.2 Billion or 13.5% from Public education to pay for a short section of wall. And even if this amount is reduced by the House to a 4-5 billion cut it will add a significant burden to schools and local communities: Guess who will end up making the difference? When that time comes I will remember that I didn’t support that.
This has also been a our State M.O. for the last 7 years. Sure, I love the idea of paying less taxes all around but that pie in the sky thinking is a double edged sword, the reductions in income tax for the top earners has to trickle down somewhere. It does, the middle earners 30-60K and then we argue and argue among ourselves the middle and low earner because we are the ones who run the local community.
Great strategy for the Millionaires and Billionaires running the show.
If you are truly concerned about what you pay in local taxes then look at how the taxes of our Nation and State are collected and dispersed. Look at every local spending. Most of us pay more taxes then we get in return and some of us even support the redistribution of wealth so that it doesn’t cause higher local taxes and still supports the local economy.
I don’t necessarily see this as a school that has too much but one that will always need more due to a consistently growing population. Think about it and make suggestions that make sense. Demands to shut it all down have no real practical implication. Think a bit deeper for a real way to reduce the cost of education. Maybe the solution is to look at an unconsolidated school system? Make each town pay for their own population? Live in a community that has no school and less property taxes?
This will come up year after year as we piddle our rights and fair collection and distribution of taxes away in favor of inspiring demagogues. Mike, this is just some insight to the dept of ed. The dept of ed is very understaffed and headed by a Governor appointed director with no experience in Education. I have spoken with some of the staff who work extremely hard to keep up with the demand but are still months behind schedule. I Seem like you need to redirect your energy to the source of the problem not the people doing their best to clean up messes. And of course, respectfully question local spending is your right and privilege as an American, I just hope you see the connections when your taxes still increase next year even if the school budget is the same or “miraculously” decreases. The lack of Fed funding for education will fall on us here but at least we will have funded a small section of a wall thousands of miles away.
I believe the children are our future…..the schools need to be funded to help these kids get the education they need….what is wrong with you people?? Pay your taxes and enjoy the benefits of the future generation!!!!
Overall this doesn’t increase the assessment from the school budget. The slight increase comes from the amendment from the floor (about $24,000 total – not enough to really impact what people will pay) to increase the amount above what the school board recommended. It is very small, but it wasn’t in the original recommendation, it’s what the people added. The fact is that we are a frugal district already. Our salaries are lower than the state and regional average.
Those who say the school is spending too much cannot point to excess spending. It’s a smoke and mirrors game, I think some people just want to complain.
Here’s a good sight to compare our cost per pupil with others in the region – the data proves that we are indeed a frugal district. http://maine.gov/education/data/ppcosts/index.html
I think some people have created a false image of the school district and the school board as spending a lot. That is blatantly false – indeed, there have been cuts to world languages, the library, and other projects because of tight times. The state is helping us now provide the minimum of what we need without increasing taxes – and in fact decreasing the bond. The decrease to the bond is above that what was added to the budget by the people at the district meeting.
I think some people are on an ideological crusade against the school district, but aren’t being practical. Let’s put practicality ahead of ideology!
Mike Deshenes, I know you are a compassionate man and your company employs people, providing for their families needs with your own efforts. And I know you have the accurate facts and figures because you have owned and run several successful businesses. I value your inputs. Thank you.
We cannot claim some sort of victory because property taxes only increased marginally for 60% of the towns. Last I checked, Augusta doesn’t print money, and we just received a large portion from them to assist our district. So yes, our taxes are still paying for the $1 million plus increase in the Mt. Blue School budget, we are just paying for it all year long, not just on our property bill.
It is time we vote for Education and against the growth of the social experiment being propagated in our schools. And as proof, consider the Special Services budget that exceeds the entire High School Budget??As a compassionate society, we try to solve everyone’s problems and validate this concept of social justice, and we attempt this in the school. We are moving from an Educational Institution to a Social Services Agency. Federally mandated, but unfunded by Washington. So we are stuck with the bill.
Companies find it difficult to hire tradesman such as electricians, plumbers, mechanics and yet we continue to pass on the loose change to Foster Tech, vice staffing and funding it like a true technology center. It is a travesty that those not college bound are overlooked and treated with such distain.
As an example of irresponsible spending, Mr. Ward stated the 3 added social services positions were “critical”, yet at the previous budget meeting he stood like a deer in the headlights with no justification, facts, or stats on the need. So is there not a “need”, or has he not done his homework?
.
So by voting NO on the school budget, I well be voting YES for EDUCATION.
In reading the above article, and comments, please consider the following:
Additional state reimbursement was received, amounting to $729,954.
The budget was adopted with: A total of $378,165 be applied to reduce property tax assessments, $164,431 for capital project expenditures, from the $729, 954. These two added together are $542,596. All of the $542,596 is being used to reduce local property tax assessments. The first $378,165 is being used this year to reduce property taxes for the 2017/2018 budget.
The $164,431 is being used to complete several necessary longterm maintenance projects over the next year, in order to reduce our bond commitments for future years.
Special Education spending has increased based on needs. As projected, special education reimbursement, and Maine Care reimbursements have increased. We are working to meet our legal requirements, and our ethical requirements for supporting our students.
Our overall budget has gone up, and our funding from the state has gone up.
Our local assessments, as a whole, are nearly the same for each of the last three years, with the assessment increases for last year, and for this year being near zero.
Can we make it three years in a row, with near zero increases needed?
Not paying taxes has two implications
Tax liens and foreclosures thereof
When you figure out it was not the best idea you’ve had in a while and pay, there’ll be interest and probably penalties
@ Mike we’re talking to a broken record. The superintendent is a hero for turning down a raise for the past three years. Let him work for what teachers do. If schools were consolidated the way the Governor wants there would be 16 superintendents for the state he may not have the job he does.
@jesse would you change your mind if you knew Tom Ward works 100 or more hours a week? Divide that salary by the amount of hours he puts in and I bet you he makes less than you do.
Not a teacher,
I find it hard to believe that he works 100 hours a week. That would be almost 15 hours a day , 7 days per
week. But i do believe he works about 70-80 hours. I work that amount every week, 52 weeks a year to
keep my little mill running. Many other people in the area work long hours to support their families. Tom gets
a nice vacation package and time off in the summer. Tom gets a very nice retirement package too. I don’t and
neither do most of the other hard working folks. Very few people make the salary he gets, and most make 1/4
or 1/3 of what he makes. Tom is doing just fine!!! But many of our elderly are suffering and many more of the
local folks are suffering.
When the people who don’t PAY taxes outnumber the people who DO, it’s time for the people who DO to get outta Dodge. Then Dodge turns into Detroit.
I truly hope no one let’s their personal grievances with one person get in the way of funding education for children.
A no vote on August 3rd is not a vote against education as some of the more liberal would try to make us believe. It would be a vote against a budget that is becoming more and more unsustainable.”No” voters all want sustainable education in our communities. Here are a few things about this budget that concerns all of us, 1)this budget is an increase of about 12million dollars in over the past 7 years,that is about 30% of what we’ll be voting on,that’s way above inflation rates,wage increases,and cost of living.2) our district has to many schools which causes us to have more administration cost,( fewer buildings would have taken foresight that we and administration did not use),hindsight is 20/20.3)we have fewer students and a bigger budget(I know cost go up,I hear it all the time)4)when the state decides to pay 55% instead of 49.5%(depending on who you ask the #’s are close) the budget puts $378,000 towards tax relief,(this is a very good thing but also required by the state and this is not free money,it comes from you the taxpayer) the budget puts about $160,000 towards needed repairs within the district,the rest is used to reinstall positions that were cut to appease the taxpayer in a revised budget that we never got to vote on,these positions were deemed unneeded for a very short time until some more money became available,the more we get the more we spend.I could go on but I think those with common sense get it.Please get out and vote 8/3 .Don’t let this budget divide our community, we can find common ground.
Jesse, what happens when a super assigned to this region tells us how to fund and run our schools and you don’t agree?
Kinda sounds like more government control and less local. It may sound good fiscally but it seems like a terrible idea.
Mike Wells> Social experiment? Please elaborate. Who is experimenting and what are they doing with the data collected?
Samo what do you think we have now ? I’m not against education like I have said before I’m against an ever increasing budget, that hasn’t improved my kids education.
Tami says, ” A child who needs 1:1 ed tech support in Kindergarten may be able to work independently at a later date. This is progress for the child and requires less from the district”
This is exactly right, and when you extend it out a bit, there’s a very real investment to be made here. I have a special needs kid who is on the cusp of independence. His 1:1 work in RSU9 has taken him to incredible new heights. We are sure that when he graduates high school, after intense at-home instruction and school instruction, he will be able to be a self-supporting, tax-paying citizen of this state. Special education is absolutely an investment in our children, and in many cases, can be a make-or-break-it for young adults deciding to make a life of their own or relying on the state for the rest of their years.
I have a problem with the budget needing to be increased in an effort to educate the “regular” students due to the budget being frozen repeatedly due to the budget for special education’s constant increase. The regular students are the ones who suffer from these actions. I also agree in part with the comments of Mr. Wells regarding the need to fund the Foster Tech. I differ in the belief that the students attending these programs are the “non-college bound” students. I think of the Lesko boy from a few years ago who graduated as valedictorian, and is sailing through UMO as a result of the biotechnology program offered at Foster Tech.
I am a parent of “regular” students, one of which participates in gifted and talented, and I see them receiving the short end of the stick. Imagine if they received the help to excel in the same fashion the special needs children receive help to function.
Jesse, we have a superintendent for our school district. I’m not sure you answered the question unless your answer is just to ask a question. So I answered yours please help me understand what you see. I actually do want to know if there is more to it than what you have presented.
The way I see it is that we have 328 school districts in Maine, if there were only 16 superintendents allowed that would be about 20 districts per Superintendent. My “opinion” is that we would loose a lot more in both education and local say in setting a budget by doing that.
Jesse, I don’t fully disagree that there may be better ways out there but I can’t get on board with this idea because it seems like it would have the opposite effect that you desire? I could clear an entire forest with one match to be fiscally tight but it would be much better to hire a local forester and logger who know the land and pay taxes like me.
You don’t have to respond to the following but think about these questions that such a proposal would create. There are a lot of creative ideas out there but would they really work best in practice?
How or rather who would appoint the 16 superintendents? How much would these 16 people have to make if they are doing 20x the work of one? How much would we pay to support someone who does not know our community? How many good people would we loose because of it? What happens to rural districts and urban when they are grouped together and held to similar budgets?
Think about this:
Wilton tanning—GONE; Farmington Shoe –GONE; Kingfield Wood Products—GONE; Winter’s Mill—GONE ; Verso paper –ALMOST GONE; Wilton Woolen Mill—GONE; Maine Wood Turning—GONE; Cat Lumber—GONE; Metcalf Lumber—GONE; Saapi Paper—GONE; Bass Shoe,–GONE; Foster Manufacturing—GONE; Farmington Canneries—GONE; New Sharon Corn Cannery—GONE; Bracklies and Joneco Mills—GONE; kingfield Wood Products—GONE; Foster Manufacturing—GONE; Maine Dowell—GONE; Otis Paper Mill—GONE; ETC. ETC. ETC.
We are in a poor district. Not many jobs. Not a lot of people well off.
Think also of those, in these hard times, how many folks are going to lose their homes and land because they cannot keep up with the ever increasing property taxes. My town’s greatest expense Is the RSU9 school assessment. This is very likely the case in the other nine towns in the RSU9 district.
The RSU9 budget has increased by more than 10,000, 000 dollars in the last eight years. It is a runaway train. This is astounding !!!! Every year is is another milliion dollar increase.
We have to stop this avalanche, the RSU9 budget. Eight years and 10 million plus dollars added in that time without regard to the less affluent of our ten towns.
Please vote NO on August 3rd. Please
Bill Reid- Unemployment in Maine for June 2017 is 3.5% vs the U.S. rate of 4.4%. You can find that data here: http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/laus.html
In June 2009 it was at 8.3% in Maine. That is a huge drop in 8 years. Unemployment in Maine is less than half the rate it was, in less than 8 years. That is data from the Federal Bureau of Statistics.
Maine’s low unemployment rates and worker shortage has been public knowledge and in the news a lot lately. As seen here: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/06/01/shortage-of-workers-forces-cutbacks-at-some-hospitality-businesses/
Stop the fear mongering!
Reality,
We are talking about towns in Southern Franklin county not statistics for the whole state.
Vote NO August third.
Good point, Bill.
Bill Reid – regarding your GONE list, several of the businesses listed are not in the geographic boundaries of RSU 9, so other than to make your list longer, I’m not sure why they are on it…
There is no disputing your comment that the RSU 9 assessment is New Sharon’s greatest expense. Have you forgotten that we have a beautiful elementary school in our small town? We have a “volunteer” fire department, rely on the Maine State Police and Franklin County Sherriff’s Office for our public safety concerns, and have a small library that is not under the fiscal purview of the town.
Also, I recall a business proposal a year or so ago that was strongly opposed by many in our town. Let’s hope that same mistake isn’t made again with the recent Dunkin Donuts proposal. A new business would bring jobs and an increased tax base to our town.
Bill Reid- Than, let’s just talk Franklin County. In June 2009 the unemployment rate was 11%. It’s now down to 4.7%. Again, I got that information here: http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/laus.html. Where are you getting your information from?
Also, I just want to point out, some of those Mills you listed above have been closed for over a decade. Some of them for two decades.
Did you know Temple once had 2 competing gas stations in it, and mills? But that was decades ago. No one brings it up anymore to argue the loss of jobs in Temple. Because, at some point you need to stop clinging to your losses from the past and look for opportunities in the future.
Things change. Job Markets change. New jobs come in, some jobs get reduced or cut completely. That is why we no longer employ people as ‘Town Crier’, ‘Lamp Lighter’, or ‘Bowling Alley Pinsetter’.
Let’s not try to stir up hate. Let’s stick to reality.
Bill Reid: Sappi? Franklin County? How long have they been gone? Where were they?
By the Maine.Gov site http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/laus.html Center for Workforce Research and Information, Franklin Counties Unemployment rate is down to 4.6%, recovering most of the way since the great recession, when unemployment was above 10%
Jobs definitely change over time,some employers leave, some grow, and new ones come in.
I did not realize Sappi recently left? Where had they been? How many did they employe? Or is the reference just mud thrown at the wall?
Looking at recent tax information, Our total local assessment peaked in 2015 at $13,240,597.
The following year property taxes assessed, went down to $12,961,942. Now, for the 2017 budget they are at $12,986,912, an increase of .2%.
From 2015 to 2017, taxes have dropped by about 2%.
Overall property taxes assessed to support the RSU 9 budget have gone down more than $254000 since 2015.
Samo I’ll try this again. You say if we have fewer supers we wouldnt have a say in the budget they would just tell us what it would be. Well that’s kinda how it goes now is what I meant. We vote yes or no at the budget meetings then at the polls. If the first doesn’t pass they come up with a new one that seems better but isnt. Like we have now. Seems to me we are already getting setup for failure. Theres plenty of facts about the budget that people have posted and tried to post and all we hear is if you vote no you’re against the kids. I Love my kids and get upset when people think they know better than I do how to take care of them. Which does happen in the school system. This is my third attempt to get back to you but the bulldog keeps deleting my posts perhaps they will let this one stay.
Jesse Sillanpaa- The schools still need to be funded. Yes, when the citizens vote the first budget down, a revised budget is then presented until an eventual budget gets approved. That’s how it works.
The administration and school board don’t stop trying to get a budget approved. They aren’t going to just quit trying to find a reasonable budget. They aren’t going to shut down the school and refuse to let kids get an education.
The people that are angry at the ‘no’ voters because they see services and courses that they want for their kids cut from the budget.
This year the school board cut a proposed increase in engineering for a full-time teacher at Foster Tech. They also cut a proposed science teacher at the high school. Maybe the people that are voting yes, are doing so because they want their kids to have every opportunity that they can. Those are just some of the things that were cut.
The State and the School board heard tax payers. The school isn’t going to be the reason your taxes go up. Now hear us, stop making us sacrifice opportunities and education for our kids.
Thank you, Jesse. I appreciate your thoughtful response and I understand that budgets are made with the recommendations of the Administrators needs to the board. The process, from what I understand, is that the board then looks at all of the needs and recommended budgets and decides what has to be implicated and what should and then what can be. Then it is well presented to the public and with an open voting process based on a majority in the room at the public meeting. When a budget is approved it goes to a cast public vote where anyone can registered in the district can vote. The budget is not secured until the majority of public approve a final amount. A very democratic process that will have some relieved it’s over and some upset that they didn’t get the results they wanted. It happens at every level of Public Service and Office.
I think that one Person overseeing multiple school districts is just too much of a job and we would be at a major loss when it comes to deciding for ourselves what our school needs.
Also, I’m curious because I can’t find any details about LePages overall plan and process if this 16 supers idea happened: How would a budget process be implemented if the superintendent was overseeing 20 districts? Would we even have a say and voting process or would they tell us what we need to pay and do? Let me know if you have any source to see how this idea would work other than to save the State share of Education funding.
Again, from your posts I know you have your kids best interests at heart. I just want to know a plan because just saying this one thing would work without an actual detail otherwise is not sound management of public funds. Time and time again we see abuse of power when only one person thinks they can make off hand statements and decisions that effect us all.
Local leadership (my opinion) in any form is better than State or Government control. Personally I don’t agree with a lot of our local leaders in the Town and County and I voice my concerns but in the end they are doing what they think is right, from an inside the position view, for those they serve.
My taxes this year will see a slight increase this year not from the school but due to new town trucks and a huge increase in jail funding to benefit the welfare of criminals. The pendulum always swings.
@ Reality thanks for clarifying how it works I must be stupid. @ Samo I heard the 16 super idea on WVOM when the governor was talking I’m not sure if there ever was a confirmed idea on it or if he was just talking like he sometimes does. My point I was trying to make is everytime there is discussion of the budget the no voters are the bad guys or gals. If we didn’t have a union holding teacher contracts over our head then we may have an easier time negotiating a budget with our teachers they may actually be willing to go a few years at a time without a pay raise. Look at Mt. Abram they went one school year with out contracts and still taught there students. So maybe Reality doesn’t have all the facts after all. If it wasnt a whole year it definitely was the better part of one. I’m tired of this back and forth so see you all at the voting booths on August 3rd.
With the RSU being the biggest part of you tax bill, of course the budget will increase or decrease you taxes.
Jennifer et al, don’t you realize that many of the workers that are or were employed by paper mills, shoe shops, wood turning mills, and a dozen other businesses since gone resided in the COMMUNITIES OF RSU9 and paid property taxes here? It isn’t just about the taxes paid on those properties outside RSU9 that BILL REID is referring to. Those workers, suddenly without means to pay higher and higher property taxes face foreclosures, having to sell their homes, struggles of what to pay this month/ what not etc. Put that group in with the seniors(quite a large % of the pop.) who don’t get retirement increases, benefits paid, etc. and maybe you’ll get a SLIGHT idea of why the big fuss over RSU budget increases. Better management with the money available is what this is about. NOT the deprivation of services to the kids or their education, but rather a better education than they are getting with unnecessary programs removed, i.e. we want more for the $ spent than we’re getting.ANOTHER million in this budget isn’t going to give the kids one thing better.
The real-estate news announced a “sellers market” not in this liberal school district. Just count all the
For sale signs.
Buckshot….You are absolutely right about a lot of senior citizens in this area struggling on fixed incomes. The other night at the budget meeting it was mostly elders who got up to the microphone to argue about the school budget.
Seeing many property tax concerns listed above, a review of recent history reveals the following: While significant property tax increases happened 3, 4 and 5 years ago, last year saw a major tax decrease, and this year sees a small property tax increase across the district.
Last year the districtwide assessments went down by about $278,000, that is down by about 2.1%
This years budget has come in with about a $25,000 property tax increase, after deciding to use $168,000 to expense necessary work, rather than incurring more debt for future budgets. This approximately $25,000 represents about a .2% increase.
Looking at the last two years, our overall tax assessment has gone down by about 1.9%.
This 1.9% decrease across the district for a two year time period, may be followed next year by another decrease.
How could anyone say such a thing? This years approved state budget put additional funding for education high on the list for priorities, and added in a significant increase for funding for schools.
Let us thank our legislators, and those who worked to get question 2 approved, showing a majority of Maine voters support higher State funding for Maine schools. Our legislators wanted to help property owners this year, and our schools, and did. Let us also work with our legislators to keep the funding in place.