Staff Writer

The Scarborough School Board has reduced its budget request for the 2009-2010 year by more than half, thanks to restored curtailment money.

The school finance committee presented the changes to the school board during their March 19 meeting. Originally, the finance committee proposed a $1 million increase, equal to 3.45 percent more than last year’s $355 million budget.

New figures request about $400,000 or a slightly more than 1 percent increase.

The budget was unanimously passed and will now be sent to the town council for reading and approval. A school budget validation vote by town residents is scheduled for May 12.

“The board has clearly said ‘This is what we need,’” Superintendent David Doyle said.

According to the proposed budget, the tax levy request – money the school receives from local taxes – will also be lowered from more than $2 million, an 8.6 percent increase, to $92,000, a 0.34 percent increase. Doyle said the increase will be covered by the elevation of town valuation, which is expected to rise by $30 million this year, resulting in a projected $363,000 rise in property tax revenues.

Changes in the projected revenue for the school year include Scarborough’s $780,000 state general-purpose aid. The money, originally cut by a statewide $27 million curtailment of General Purpose Aid will be funded by the American Recovery Reinvestment Act, also know as the “stimulus” package.

The proposed budget also projects $100,000 in Medicaid revenues, which had originally been reduced to zero. Doyle said the school district, which works with Maine State Billing Services, was originally told Medicaid could not be billed for the upcoming school year, but the decision was reversed. He said Scarborough typically bills Medicaid $150,000 per year, but are being “conservative” with the $100,000 projection. 

Doyle said there is also an expected surplus of $600,000, or leftover money from the previous budget, which will roll over into the proposed budget.

The finance committee removed $50,000 in expected revenue from high school activity fees, as the school policy committee plans to look into its elimination. School Board Chairman Brian Dell’Olio said the school board will use their other revenue to fund projects previously subsidized by activity fees.

The largest reduction in proposed expenditures is $356,000 in Anthem insurance rates for school employees. Doyle said the school board originally accounted for a 9 percent raise in rates for the upcoming year, but he said they will remain the same. He said the Maine Education Association (MEA) Benefits Trust works with Anthem on the insurance rates on a yearly basis.

MEA Benefits Trust Executive Director Christine Burke said at the beginning of the year she told school districts she would be able to negotiate the rate increase “in the single digits,” giving Scarborough the idea to budget the worst-case scenario raise of 9 percent. Burke said after being able to negotiate the rate increase to be less than 5 percent, the trust “bought down,” or paid for the increase, leaving a zero percent increase for school districts. 

According to the proposed budget, $130,000 from the restored 2008-2009 general-purpose aid will be used to buy school supplies. Doyle said the money will be used to buy materials ahead of time, such as books for the new middle school math curriculum so teachers can become familiar with what they will be teaching.

Total reductions in the proposed budget would be more than $800,000.

Among the proposed reductions are salary and stipends for all unbargained school groups for $262,000, central office administration salary and benefits for $17,000, Adult Education secretary salary and benefits for $2,100 and substitute teacher wages for $50,000.

Reductions are also proposed in course reimbursement for $60,000. Doyle said the reimbursement money is used for teachers to attend and pay for college courses, which they are paid back by the district if they receive a grade of “B” or better in the class. He said teachers are allowed to take up to nine college credits for reimbursement.

Reductions are also proposed in the custodial uniform account for $7,500 and the Wentworth Intermediate School electricity account for $7,000.

The proposed budget also includes the addition of two technology teachers for the high school at an estimated cost of $110,000, and technology supplies and equipment at the high school, a $10,000 cost.

Doyle said he hopes requested positions and equipment will be a “kick start” to the school technology programs, to teach specific programs to prepare students for potential college courses or future jobs.

Dell’Olio said he is pleased with the proposed budget.

“I think the finance committee did excellent work,” Dell’Olio said. “I’m pleased we were able to get it to such a low request.”

Dell’Olio said the 1 percent raise is a “responsible” increase, which will save jobs and not affect the town’s tax rate. He said he thinks the town council will be receptive to the proposed budget.