Staff Writer

 Bruce Bell said his efforts to create alternatives to the municipal and education budgets came after a suggestion by Town Councilor Judith Roy.

“She told me to not to be part of the problem, be part of the solution,” said Bell, who has lived in town for 64 years and is worried about the effect a tax increase would have on him and his neighbors.

Bell joined more than a dozen people who spoke last week at a public hearing on the $32.3 million municipal and $36.14 million education budget, which includes adult education. He came armed with a list of proposed spending reductions on both budgets he believes will avoid school department layoffs.

The fiscal year 2011 education budget calls for elimination of 31 positions. It drew protests from speakers including Christine Kukka and Helen Rundell, members of Saving Excellence in Scarborough Schools, an organization asking for an evaluation of how education money is allotted and spent.

Bell emphasized he does not want to cut teaching positions or eliminate programs but wants to maintain the current $12.15 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Bell said he has spent the last few weeks reviewing budgets and third quarter fiscal reports for the town and school system, and has suggested reductions of $1 million in education and more than $254,000 in municipal spending.

Bell’s education budget proposes eliminating the position of assistant superintendent and an assistant principal position at Scarborough High School for more than $182,000 in savings. Putting off buying a new bus would save $100,000, he said. The department already has eliminated two bus routes and has 22 drivers for 30 vehicles, Bell said.

His suggestions are not aimed only at big-ticket items – Bell said he does not understand why millions were spent to renovate the high school and build the Homer Winslow Auditorium while $6,000 is spent to hold commencement ceremonies at Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.

After the April 28 hearing, Bell was congratulated for his work by Scarborough resident Scott Berube, who told councilors the town could not continue its spending pace. Kukka and Rundell also thanked Bell for his work.

Board of Education member Jackie Perry said the school budget is always a visible target.

“It’s easy to take a shot because it is the biggest thing,” Perry said.

Bell said he has talked about his ideas with board members Brian Dell’Olio and Bob Mitchell.

Mitchell, who is chairman of the board finance committee, said committee members already had considered much of what Bell proposed as they tried to cope with reductions in state aid.

Mitchell said items like new buses are still needed for the long haul, but limiting purchases is a must.

Bell said he hopes spending priorities can change if voters reject the proposed budget.

On the municipal side, Town Manager Tom Hall said Bell’s input has been noted, especially for public works spending.

Hall said he has proposed shifting $10,000 from the account to buy salt and sand and $15,000 in savings on town propane supplies to provide additional property tax rebate funds for senior citizens.

Hall and Bell continue to disagree on the need for a new deputy director at the public works department. Bell said the position should be postponed a year and Hall said it is integral to restructuring a department that will spend $174,000 less next year.

Bell said he knows public works departments are both vital to a town and visible for possible budget cuts because of his experience as superintendent for operations at Portland’s public works department.

“The biggest investment any municipality has is the infrastructure public works maintains,” Bell said. “Look at the roads and drainage and all the interconnects.”

How Bell’s suggestions may effect the municipal budget was determined after the council had its second reading and vote on the budget Wednesday, after the Leader deadline. No matter the result, Bell knows his kind of input is more a method of persistence than brilliance.

“It’s not rocket science,” he said. “But I still come back to say I can see ways you people can improve your spending habits.”

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219