INDUSTRY – SAD 9 pays less than the state average to educate its students so taxpayers should feel confident they are getting the best bang for their buck, Superintendent Michael Cormier said.

Cormier, Assistant Superintendent Paul Knowles, District Business Manager Kris Pottle, and nine of the 15 school board members presented their budget to more than 40 taxpayers on Monday night in Industry at the town’s hall.

A huge turnout by district representatives, including a handful of principals, was matched by a strong turnout of those representing the New Vineyard School Budget Advisory Committee, a grassroots organization of taxpayers who are urging the district to keep the budget the same as last year.

SAD 9 is feeling the crunch as state mandates on education like the Maine Learning Results and federal mandates like the recently passed “No Child Left Behind Act” are being enforced, but not backed up by federal and state dollars. As Cormier said, “We are mandated to death.”

The district’s proposed budget is $21,239,979, a 2.3 percent increase from last year. The negotiated contracts for district staff salary and benefits represent more than a $700,000 increase. It is partly attributed to a 9.9 percent increase in insurance premiums for district employees. Still, Cormier pointed out that SAD 9 teachers make about $3,000 less than the state average and it takes teachers longer to reach the top of the pay scale, which makes it tough to compete for teachers in the state market.

He said SAD 9 pays $453 less than the state average to educate its 1,834 elementary students and $92 less on its 938 secondary students.

The district kept the increase to under $500,000 by cutting staff positions, postponing capital improvements, eliminating a bus route and trimming supply costs.

The state will pick up 56.41 percent of the budget, and the remaining 43.59 percent will come out of the pockets of taxpayers.

Towns facing the highest increases are New Vineyard, which pays 5.33 percent of the total local share of the budget, and Industry, which chips in 6.65 percent of the local share, because their property valuations have dramatically increased over the past year. The budget that will go before taxpayers in the June referendum is expected to be finalized by board members at their weekly meeting Tuesday night. According to Cormier, the budget must be finalized this week so there is enough time to get the warrants and ballots printed and posted 10 days before the vote, slated for June 10.

Many taxpayers said they feel the cuts are not enough, and some spoke out at Monday’s informational meeting.

David Hargreaves, who has led the New Vineyard contingent, said, “Why would you finalize the budget when you know people won’t pass it?” he asked. He then turned to the crowd and asked people who would vote for the budget to raise their hands. When no one did, Hargreaves said to Cormier, “Slim pickings, ain’t it?”

“We can make a lot of cuts without jeopardizing the kids. We just can’t afford you. That’s the bottom line,” Hargreaves said. “We just can’t afford your budget Mikey.”

Hargreaves was backed up by Loris Bailey, also on the advisory committee. “We can’t afford a budget that’s any bigger than it was last year,” he said, pointing out the poor economy in the district.

Unfortunately, Cormier pointed out, the 11th hour attempt by the advisory committee is coming too late. The budget was unveiled in March, and no taxpayers came forward to recommend changes or cuts until April.

Board member Susan Roberts of Farmington said, “This is a budget meeting,” she said, “but it’s beginning to feel like an attack.”

Cormier said he hoped those with last-minute ideas about how to save the district money would plead their case at Tuesday’s meeting.

Tuesday night’s board meeting will be held at 7p.m. at the Mount Blue High School library.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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