FARMINGTON – Residents will vote on a $33.6 million budget at the district-wide budget meeting on Sept. 5, after directors approved a series of proposed reductions Monday evening.
Directors approved a proposed $33,637,093 budget, down nearly $300,000 from the $33.9 million budget approved at the July 25 budget meeting. That budget was not validated at the Aug. 3 referendum, with 1,290 votes cast in favor and 1,429 votes cast in opposition. It’s the second time the budget was defeated this year; another, albeit different, $33.9 million budget that predated the district’s receipt of $730,000 in additional state subsidy was rejected on Aug. 3. That first vote also resulted in the approval of a $318,000 bond issue for school building improvements.
The reductions included in the new proposed budget include cutting $165,431 in capital projects that would be covered instead by the previously approved bond.
A half-time American Sign Language teaching position that was added at the July 25 meeting was removed, representing a reduction of $24,970. Some directors supported that position’s retention, noting that the current incoming 8th grade class would be required to take a World Language to graduate. Mt. Blue High School only offers French and Spanish, as well as the popular ASL program. Other directors pointed to the two defeated budgets, however, and an amendment to add the half-time position back into the budget failed by a narrow weighted vote.
The directors also cut 1.5 social worker positions out of the budget; those social workers would have worked with regular instruction students. That leaves half of a new position in the budget to pair with the existing half of a position at the Mt. Blue Middle School.
If approved as presented, the budget would represent a 2.71 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. It would result in more than a 2 percent decrease in local property tax assessments as compared to the previous fiscal year, or $267,444 less.
Specifically, Chesterville would see a $4,114 increase, or .44 percent; Farmington would see a $104,419 decrease, or 2.26 percent; Industry would see a $12,454 increase, or 1.54 percent; New Sharon would see a $25,859 decrease, or 2.52 percent; New Vineyard would see a $4,842 decrease, or .54 percent; Starks would see a $22,535 increase, or 6.28 percent; Temple would see a $21,405 decrease, or 4.86 percent; Vienna would see a $13,506 decrease or 1.93 percent; Weld would see an $18,874 decrease, or 4.01 percent; and Wilton would see a $118,641 decrease, or 4.11 percent.
Warrants for the new vote would be signed on Aug. 22, with the new budget would then proceed to the district-wide budget meeting on Sept. 5.
The validation referendum would be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Superintendent Thomas Ward previously said that feedback the district had received from the towns indicated a preference for Tuesday referendum votes, as has been the typical practice in the past. The Aug. 3 vote was on a Thursday.
They just do not get it.
Wow…..They cut $300k off a $33.9 MILLION budget……And they wonder why it won’t pass?
Why aren’t the taxpayers being taken seriously? Two referendums voted down and still no cuts? Only additions at a 2.71 percent increase. It’s not about how much the current town tax bill will be, but how much more the school budget bottom line is. The tax payers can not afford an average of a million dollar increase to the budget each year.
I guess i don’t understand why it didn’t drop by at lest 730,000 dollars that the kicked in
it’s still 2.71% increase over last year vote no !
It’s still a NO!!
Sincerely,
Overtaxed Farmington Homeowner
Every penny the state kicked in after the first budget failed should gave gone to lowering the local share.
School board members…vote for no increase or get voted out it’s that simple be prepared for round 4
I’ll vote yes when it gets down to $32 million. Stop ignoring the taxpayers!
I see Wiltons taxes for schools are set to go down 4/11 %. That is two years a row for dropping taxes for schools for Wilton. I will vote yes for this tax reduction. Two year total tax reduction for Wilton is more than 6% for the school assessment.
Any annual increase should be limited to 2%. That is often the case in the real world.
That relentless runaway train, the RSU9 budget, keeps on rolling.
Itemized list with voting day would be nice. Just think what 33 million dollars looks like. All on a school budget ?
Maine has the most oldest populationon per capita and lives on a fix income. Schools are turning out to be big business.
Wow people. You negative voters continue to amaze me. If you don’t like your current tax situation. See if you can find a better one someplace else. These children deserve to have the best opportunity to get an education. You are going to see increases every year because costs go up. That is life. Our children are going to continue to lose great teachers as well. Open your mind and eyes before it’s to late. I wonder why this area is so economically challenged. Could it be that we the people are holding this area back. Just some food for thought
Why is there so much poverty in this area? Where have the majority of the residents been educated?
Where do parents learn to rely on the school to feed their children?
We do have some wonderful teachers, who must be feeling attacked. We are going to have a hard time attracting new ones with the above attitudes. An attack on education is an attack on children, an attack on the future. Say yes to education. Support the kids, and vote yes, or at least keep your trucks off of the sidewalk.
Very little of the budget can be cut. The majority of the increases every year are wages and benefits that is already bargained for between the school board and the staff. Cutting pencils and paper will not amount to anything. Now, cutting the 30 sick days administrators get would make a dent.
There is very little that can be cut. Every measure shows that our budget is relatively frugal compared to others. Those who try to point to overall increases as the problem need to see that all over the state similar increases have taken place due to spending requirements that can’t be simply rejected. We have cut world languages, library funding, and anywhere there was some excess. We aren’t funding things that are really needed. Moreover, those who say things are out of control, can’t seem to point to what to cut. Some complain about salaries, but our salaries again are low compared to others around the state, and we lose good people because of that. But when we are protecting tax payers two years in a row, keeping our per pupil cost near the bottom, it gets to a point where demands for huge cuts seem on their face misguided. Those who want cuts should look into the materials and be specific about what exactly should be cut. Even if I disagree, I would very much respect someone who doesn’t just say “it’s out of control,” but instead actually takes the time to detail why they think that, and point out spending that can be cut.
Lets talk raises, as I recall up to 23% increase, retroactive. Lets ask why the wages were not published this year. I believe it is because there were so many significant raises in the last couple years, that administration does not want to be embarrassed, by people seeing the old salaries compared to the new ones. Scott, stating that per pupil cost is near the bottom is not correct. When the administration started individual increases in staff pay to ” get closer to what they might be paid somewhere else” took that statement away. If you compare your proposed 2017/2018 budget with other school budgets there is no way RSU9 is still the better deal.
Come on people who voted no, 165,400 taken out of the yearly budget to be put back on the capital improvement bond equals more money paid over time plus interest equals more money, I thought the no votes wanted to save money. Guess I was wrong.
@billyjoebob
Very well said !
Plain and simple NO NO NO!
Vote no to any spending or tax increases. Mainers asking back their state from the liberal spendocrats happens one own at a time. It’s going to ake a lot of towns saying “NO” for these groups to get the message.
Dr. Erb, Proposed school budgets were voted down last year and twice so far this year because property taxes have risen significantly and remain high. School administrators and the Board should accept that the budget has reached the breaking point and school spending has to be curtailed. But, school officials don’t seem to believe that this community has a financial limit. This latest proposed budget shows an $887,984 increase over last year’s budget. This is considered to be a big increase by many, but not to school administrators and the Board. Instead, we hear it is not enough. It is time for school officials to shift gears and start thinking on how to operate the school on the money that CAN be provided. The financial situation is what it is and school officials should move forward, do their jobs, and speak publicly in a way that restores peace to the community.. not create further divide. And, be realistic, people from the community do not have enough information on how things are funded (grants, carry-overs, future funding, etc.) , which things are mandatory, what gets reimbursed, legalities of contracts in place, etc. to say where reductions should be made. Making those decisions is the job of school officials when a budget is voted down when it is too high for a community to support.
If you all feel so strongly about the budget, then make time to go and be a part of setting the budget at the district-wide budget meeting on Sept. 5. That is when you CAN make a difference.
Seems like it really is time for people to start moving out of district. The school system knows what it needs and what it can not do without. If you can’t afford to support this school system as many are saying, then it is time to move to an area you can afford to live in. You have to remember that with a small population, the burden is not as spread out. If we had an additional say five thousand homes in each town then it wouldn’t be so bad. I know this will never happen and that brings me right back to where I started. If you can not afford your taxes, downsize and or move. A family wanting a quality education for their children might want that property so they can benefit from the schools….the schools that will help keep these towns alive with skilled proud graduates. Or maybe even reel in your home budget to be able to pay your taxes. And enough with blaming salaries. This district is one of the lowest paid which is reflected in the 12 plus job openings that arent filled because to be frank the pay is pitiful when compared to other districts. As an example bus drivers in mt blue sttart at 12 and change an hour while 10 minutes down the road at Spruce mtn they start at 17 an hour. After doing some google research, bus drivers in mt blue are among the lowest paid IN THE COUNTRY let alone the state.
Here’s a simple, honest statement. I want more of my money to spend on myself, my wife, my children, and my grandchildren. We are old and much goes to health care. Our days of being able to be generous are over. It doesn’t matter to me what RSU 9 wants, I want to use more of my money.
Correct me if I’m wrong..Don’t people in Maine get money back from their property taxes if it’s over a certain amount of their income? When they file their state income tax return?
Lindy, the votes have been very close – and the third budget could well pass. The most ardent no voters need not be appeased, people on the edge need to be convinced that the board is doing the best it can in difficult times, already having made massive cuts. We also welcome the state (who sees this problem in school districts across the state – costs have gone up for everyone) giving more back so taxes don’t go up. If you can’t point to something specific to cut, that says a lot!
Keith, our salaries are below average, both in the state and region. When people complain about administration salaries, so few people are in those positions that even if we cut those (no doubt losing good people), it wouldn’t dent the budget. There is no measure that suggests our people are overpaid. In any event, negotiated salaries can’t be cut at this time – we’d have to cut jobs and increase class size. Another poster has made that clear.
I think most people can afford the fact that there is no tax increase (and last year was a very tiny one), and with more state help coming probably none in the near future.
When the state pays more that isn’t us paying more. Given the wealth differential, state money primarily comes from wealthy counties on the coast. Our new high school, including most debt service, is being paid in large part by wealthy counties on the coast. That should be welcome! Again, I’m looking for specific things people want to cut.
§1487. Failure to pass budget
If a budget for the operation of a regional school unit is not approved prior to July 1st, the latest budget approved at a regional school unit budget meeting and submitted to the voters for validation at a referendum in accordance with section 1486 is automatically considered the budget for operational expenses for the ensuing year until a final budget is approved, except that, when the regional school unit board delays the regional school unit budget meeting, the operating budget must be approved within 30 days of the date the commissioner notifies the regional school unit board of the amount allocated to the regional school unit under section 15689-B, or the latest budget submitted by the regional school unit board becomes the operating budget for the next school year until a budget is approved at a regional school unit budget meeting and validated at a referendum. If the budget of a regional school unit is not approved and validated before July 1st and the officers of any affected municipality determine that the property taxes must be committed in a timely manner to the collector pursuant to Title 36, section 709, the municipal assessor or assessors may commit the property taxes on the basis of the latest budget approved at a regional school unit budget meeting and submitted to the voters for validation at a referendum in accordance with section 1486. [2007, c. 668, §21 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW). 2007, c. 668, §21 (AMD).
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-a/title20-Asec1487.html
The RSU 9 budget passed at the annual meeting on May 31 and then again on July 25. The RSU 9 district legally will use that approved budget in the interim until a compromise is reached.
Scott I have asked for an itemized budget and my email has not been answered by the superintendents office. An itemized budget for people to see would help in pointing out places to cut.
Sillanpaa- A copy is sent to each town. You can also go to the Central Office, a school board member, or an Administrator to view the budget at any time.
Dr. Erb, Massive cuts have been made? I think the only cuts made were to the items the Board added to the first proposed budget back in the spring. What has been cut were proposed positions and expenditures that were never in place. Also, you stated that because the public has not responded to your appeal for suggestions for cuts, that that says a lot in substantiating that cuts cannot be made? Yet, every time a suggestion is made to the Board, it gets shot down for various reasons. The public has become gun shy. Besides, cutting spending is your job. But I will give you one suggestion for a cut that the Superintendent has opposed, but I think should be considered by the Board…and that is football. It is a very expensive sport and some Maine schools have already discontinued it and replaced it with soccer. But I think even more of a concern now should be the recent report in the news of how brain injury (CTE) is being seen even in high school football players. Is it worth the health risk?
The idea of cutting football and “pay to play” is an option, Lindy. If the budget fails this time, I’m sure that will be considered again. The money the boosters raise already cuts the costs to the school, I think that’s a big reason sports cuts have been seen as unnecessary or not saving as much as people think. In recent years world languages have had cuts, the library is at about 40% of what it was back in 2009. Going to the schools you see that they are getting by with little – especially with the budget freezes the Superindendent had to put in place the last two years. I can’t honestly support any more cuts, it was hard to support the ones made at the last meeting, I think social workers would not only help a lot of children, but in the long run will save the community money. My job is to do what is best for the schools and community – last year most towns had a decrease in assessment from the schools, this year again we’ve come in not needing tax increases.
That said, perhaps I’m missing something and will listen to any advice.
Reality what the school sends out to mailboxes is NOT itemized it is the dollar amount being asked for. What I want is a break down of that bottom line and can not get one.
Dr. Erb…The same argument on sports…the boosters are paying. How much is booster money not covering? I had made the suggestion to the school administration a year or so about posting the funding allocations on the school website for the public. That way we could all see how much and what specifically is paid for by grant money, state money, boosters, Medicaid, other income, carry-over money, and local taxpayer money. That was never provided which supports further why determining where to make cuts is YOUR job. But, okay here is another suggestion for cuts. There are a lot of specialized classes listed in the high school Course of Studies on the school website. Keeping in mind the very poor proficiency test scores from RSU 9 students for the basics; math, science, and English/literacy, consider discontinuing some of the following classes: advertising and promotion, travel & tourism, children’s literature, intro to film and theory, journalism, play production, pop culture, trip lit, gardening, interiors (design), anatomy and physiology, economics, east Asian studies, modern criminology, sports in society, etc. It reads like a college catalog. I have already heard the justification the school gives for these classes…that they want to give students the opportunity to sample different fields. But, this is public money being spent and what should that reasonably be expected to cover….especially, with the kids doing so poorly in the classes that really count. Also consider, the students have all been provided with a computer and have the w.w.w. at their fingertips. Different fields can easily be explored by a student on their own over the internet which is something previous generations didn’t have. (Incidentally, with everyone having computer…cutting the library budget is probably not as critical as it would have been years ago. )
Ya, Lindy….
Jesse, thank you for continuing to ask that question.
I have yet to see an itemized ( pencil, paper, eraser ) breakdown of what is actually spent in each category.
” transportation xxx dollars ” is hardly itemized. I would like to see, tires, how many, what brand etc., batteries, oil…
Many may think that this is mere pennies, but how in the world are we ever going to know if there is waste or error if we ( the public ) don’t have access to this information?
To say we must trust the powers to be with 33 million dollars is just not right. Look around, corruption is abound.
Especially when it is asked that we continue to raise the budget millions each year just because ” things are more expensive “.
I don’t think our students are doing so bad at all. Our school gets a lot of praise. There are a number of struggling students – that’s likely a result of differencess in student situations (poverty, parental support, etc.) I’d hate to focus so much on those students having trouble with the basics that we don’t give our best students the kinds of opportunities to help them for college and beyond. Specialized courses are very useful. Many of those courses directly help students get jobs (and the votech stuff is really valuable.) Still, thanks for the suggestion and I will look at the course offerings and ask questions and not just assume they’re all needed. Given students have to take classes, I don’t know if changing which classes will save money. Also, you make a good point that we could make it easier to see how grants, etc., pay for some things and not others. That can be better communicated, I suspect. BTW, I prefer my first name, “Dr. Erb” sounds stuffy, but you can call obviously me what you want.
Billyjoebob, I really don’t see corruption and waste. I’ll keep my eyes open. There have been more spending requirements from the state and feds that pushed budgets up in recent years. I know budget materials were at meetings. The towns should have them.
Sillanpaa- That is what I am telling you. Each town has the original itemized budget sent to them. This happens every year. Often times the town stores a copy of it at the local libraries. Also, you can view a copy of the current itemized budget if you go to the Schools Central Office, a school board member, or an Administrator. The itemized budget is very large. Do you realize how much it would cost to mail a copy to every resident in the towns? This method of providing the itemized budget has been the process for years. This is not new.
Jesse have you tried your town office? I believe that is what Reality was trying to tell you.
He said sent to your town, not your mailbox.
Scott, I certainly wasn’t accusing anyone of corruption. But it would be rather naive to think that it doesn’t exist when it is all around us on a daily basis.
Just best to be as transparent as possible when dealing with such large amounts of other peoples money.
( And I honestly think YOU are ), but you are not the only moving part.
I would like to know exactly how much money there is in the sum total of all the contingency funds that are scattered across the budget. It would be useful to learn how much extra money the district has available to handle unexpected financial emergencies. Is this total figure available?
There is another question that needs answering, viz. how much money was reimbursed to RSU9 for the school year 2016 to 2017 from the Federal Government and State, for mandated programs they force the District to finance and execute? There are probably other sources of income as well outside of government mandates. Where would one find that information.
Billyjoebob, all I can do is promise to keep my eyes and mind open, and listen. I’ll not pretend I really understand all that’s going on.
Bill – I’ll try to find that out, but I know that one problem we’ve had is our contingency funds weren’t enough to handle surprise expenses (I think in special ed). That’s why the budget had to be frozen early in the year the last two years. There was a move to increase contingency fees this year with the idea that we could avoid budget freezes (that was, I believe, Ryan Morgan’s idea).
Several generations of my family have lived in this area. I don’t understand why we should move away just because the school finances are out of hand. Seems to me if those people want more and better then they better leave and let us get by the best we can. I bet the kids will learn just as much and probably more than they are now. After reading all this stuff, we decided at the reunion and with neighbors to vote next time and it,ll be no for this family and the neighbors.
So long as the process is run honestly, the ballot box is the proper way to resolve the matter. It appears likely that the NO voters have a more difficult time getting their thoughts heard any other way.
Wow Lindy, you sure woke us up. All those things for courses at Mt. Blue, no wonder the kids are behind Academically!! Maybe some are in there so the kids can get A’s. Some should be offered in College, not high school. Criminology, gardening, Child’s literature etc. Maybe in adult Ed. but not Mt. Blue Reg. Education classes. Basics First- then when achieve, ,some of this unnecessary stuff.. Yes, get rid of football! I wouldn’t want any of my children or grandchildren in there! Baseball, soccer, track, yes- No football. “No ” is my vote next time- too many extras !
Scott Erb’s statement “I’d hate to focus so much on those students having trouble with the basics that we don’t give our best students the kinds of opportunities to help them for college and beyond.” sounds like he is fine with writing “those students having trouble with the basics” off. Odd statement for a leftie to make, or is it? “Elitist” comes to mind.
I wondered about that too Arnold. That school they call campus seems too good for some of us. Is that why they give them choices of classes that aren’t needed. Some of that stuff is common sense, you don’t need a teacher paid all that money to show movies and look at computors allday. Is MR. ERB on the board of officials? I just want the kids to pass the tests and get ready for what they want to do after high school, college, vocational, service,.A high school diploma should still be worth something,but I’m seeing and hearing some not so good things and about too much money for nothing received. and to the lady called Lindy keep us awake and knowing of the things we should be aware of, my thanks goes out to you young lady.
Lindy is on the ball !!!!
Lindy is doing what the board members should be doing !
I have a question that needs answering, namely, is RSU9 still teaching cursive (longhand) writing? It seems to be the new fad is schools to give it up. It would be a COLOSSAL mistake to close out our students from being able to read what is handwritten by people. How could one work at a post office, or read our ancestor’s diaries or letters or just about any other job that requires reading english that is not printed. There are fads that sweep through the ranks of teacher’s colleges and the educationese that are sometimes baffling.
Bill Reid, some of the kids can’t write and its hard to read what they print and their spelling is bad. Reminds me of something Daniel Boone carved in a tree, or so it is said to have been, D BOONE CILED A BAR UP THIS TREE The girls on the neighbors farm said at first they got printing but later on the new teacher they got taught them to write and that some other teachers had them writing and now in middle school they like it.They wished it had been given in grade 3 or4 but at least they got to write as the friends ahead of them couldn’t. Youd think all the teachers in every school would do it. I can’ even help the kids with some of the arithmetic they bring home. What is wrong with the old way?
Hey Bill, some of my familys old deeds are in cursive, its kind of fun to dig them out and read them. They are in beautiful penmanship and grammar. Might make a good lesson for some English class at MT BLUE. How it used to be.and how it ought to be now.
Woodsman, I hope cursive is being taught. It is very important. My concern is for the budget. It would be an outrage if it is not being taught and instead RSU9 is spending money to teach things that are of peripheral importance. Think of all the occupations where this ability is crucial. Could one sort the mail at a post office or as you suggest to me working in a deeds office in counties, or police officers. The school system has to teach it otherwise the students will not be properly prepared for life.