By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

As Finance Coordinator Sherrie Proctor read information regarding the proposed $31,978,310 SAD 61 school budget posted on the virtual slide presentation during the March 22 public hearing, no questions or comments came her way.

The proposal is up 2.6%.

For Bridgton taxpayers, the town’s assessment will actually decrease $101,665 to $9,721,339.

Casco taxpayers will also see a dip, $65,891, to $6,573,171.

Naples, however, takes the hit mainly due to an increase in valuation, up $182,255 to an assessment of $8,108,721.

Superintendent Al Smith, likely accompanied by school board members from the respective town, will visit all three municipalities in the coming weeks to outline the proposal and answer questions.

The School Board will vote on the proposed budget on Monday, April 5. 

The district budget meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11 in the Lake Region High School Gym at 6:30 p.m. 

The validation referendum in the three district towns is Tuesday, May 25.

In her opening remarks, Proctor called attention to:

• Debt service decreased by $253,332 with the final payment of Stevens Brook Elementary School bond.

• A slight increase in Special Education subsidy.

• A slight decrease in economically disadvantaged funding.

• The opening of Crooked River Elementary (new positions and other costs to open the facility) this fall increased the overall budget by $375,000. Some costs were offset by use of undesignated funds.

As voters will see at the district budget meeting, Proctor introduced slides that outlined each article:

Article 1, Regular Instruction, $11,114,215 (up $615,344). Increases due to contractual salary and benefit increases, opening Crooked River which includes an additional half-time music teacher.

Article 2, Special Education, $5,886,127 (up $79,533). Increases due to contractual salary and benefit increases, reduction of one position from efficiencies in combining programs, and $30,000 decrease in out-of-district placements based on projected student placements.

Article 3, Career and Technical Education, $1,889,969 (up $76,256). Increases due to contractual salary and benefit increases; Health Occupations II was added to make Health Occupations a two-year program for those students working toward becoming a Registered Nurse — this increased staff by a half-time teacher.

Article 4, Other Instruction, $702,033 (up $15,491). This article includes summer school, co-curricular activities and athletics, as well as transportation to those events; contractual salary and benefit increases; stipends added to address JV girls’ lacrosse and support of a summer conditioning coach.

Article 5, Student and Staff Support, $2,635,209 (down $51,510). This article includes guidance, library, nurse/health services, technology, curriculum and student testing. This line includes a .6 increase in health services for a full-time nurse at Crooked River Elementary.

Article 6, System Administration, $1,010,559 (up $75,431). Increases due to contractual salary and benefit increases, new position included for payroll/human resources, and increase in unemployment costs due to Covid-19 since SAD 61 is a direct reimbursement employer.

Article 7, School Administration, $1,668,876 (up $182,709). Increase due to contractual salary and benefit increases, opening of Crooked River — need for two new secretarial positions for the main office, as well as materials for the initial set up of the new space.

Article 8, Transportation, $1,716,350 (decrease of $78,002). Due to bus lease/purchase has been paid in full, reduction of one special ed bus run, one additional bus run added to address Crooked River opening.

Article 9, Facilities and Maintenance, $3,384,035 (decrease of $83,513). Due to “appropriate use” of federal grant money and SAD 61 reserve funds; two custodians added to Crooked River; one unfilled custodial position at LRHS eliminated.

Capital Reserve Funds, move $150,000 to facilities/maintenance reserve; $150,000 to transportation reserve, $200,000 to regular instruction reserve. SAD 61 will ask to use $150,000 from facilities/maintenance reserve to pave several locations in the district. These funds will not increase taxpayer assessments.