Staff Writer

 The Scarborough Board of Education balanced perceived political realities with pleas to save academic programs before it forwarded a $34.87 million budget to the Town Council last week.

 The proposed 2011 budget recently is less than the $35.19 million budget for fiscal year 2010, but was increased by more than $460,000 after restoration of state subsidies to the school department.

Bob Mitchell, chairman of the finance committee that drafted the proposed budget, said it demonstrated the board was willing to make tough choices in hard times and vowed to fight any further reductions councilors might suggest.

His argument may have carried the day in the 6-3 board vote, but board members Jackie Perry, Abby Van Note and Julia Agger argued councilors should consider a budget drafted by Superintendent David Doyle that would have increased total spending by 11.75 percent to more than $36.31 million.

“Why not take a chance with (Doyle’s) budget?” Agger asked. “At least we can say we fought for it.”

Agger, a senior at Scarborough High School, and Van Note are student representatives on the board and sided with Perry in arguing the increased budget is critical to ensure the quality of local education.

“This budget does not reflect what students said they need the most,” said Van Note, a junior.

The Town Charter requires council approval of what the Board of Education spends, but councilors cannot make specific line item cuts to any proposed education budget. The education budget approved by the council will go to voters in a referendum scheduled for 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 11 at Town Hall.

The proposed budget calls for elimination of 34 positions, less than the 43 positions that would have been cut in the original $34.41 million budget presented to the public at a hearing Feb. 25.

Additional state subsidies will help restore guidance, art, music and physical education positions at the K-2 level in addition to homeroom teaching positions at Wentworth Intermediate and Scarborough Middle schools and English and history teaching positions at the high school.

The proposed budget still calls for raising money through activities fees for students participating in sports and other co-curricular activities, but the amount was reduced from $250,000 to $200,000. Foreign language and health education programs at the middle school would be cut if the budget passes.

In supporting the budget, Chairman Brian Dell’Olio said Doyle’s budget “would shock a lot of people. The finance committee budget may not shock as many people.”

While overall spending is reduced, taxpayers will be asked to pay $28.43 million of the education budget, a $1.66 million increase from the current town tax levy.

The effect of the increase on the current tax rate of $12.15 per $1,000 of assessed value cannot be fully determined until Town Assessor Paul Lesperance completes annual valuations of town properties this summer.

Town Manager Tom Hall in his budget presentation to the Town Council last Wednesday said valuations are expected to rise by about $20 million. A reduction in the state reimbursement on local properties called the Homestead Exemption would add an additional $10 million in local tax levies.

Accounting for the municipal and school budgets, Hall estimated the tax rate could increase by about 55 cents, or $110 on a property valued at $200,000.

Despite restoration of state money, Scarborough schools still will receive about $1.5 million less than the $7.01 million state subsidies promised last year and about $308,000 less than actually received after curtailments to funding. The curtailment of about $1.13 million was used to help balance the current state budget.