LIVERMORE FALLS – Superintendent Terry Despres told selectmen Tuesday night that warrants for the school budget have been posted in both towns.

The SAD 36 request from the towns stays flat, at 13.98 mills, the same as last year. For Livermore Falls, the dollar amount is $37,000 lower, due to a drop in valuation, but the Livermore share is up because its valuation has increased.

If the state Legislature had acted, the savings to Livermore Falls would have been about $50,000, he said.

“It’s critical that 1A gets passed,” Despres advised the board. “If 1A doesn’t pass, there’s no room for negotiation.”

Depres was referring to the upcoming referendum question, which will be voted on June 8. It asks voters whether they want the state to pay 55 percent of the cost of public education, including all special education costs, to shift the burden from property taxes to state resources. This will be Question 1 on the June ballot. With the same wording, it was Question 1A on last November’s ballot, but didn’t receive enough votes to pass.

“The Palesky proposal, based on 10 mills, passes – it will create a shutdown pretty much statewide,” he said. The Palesky initiative, which will be on the state’s November ballot, calls for a tax cap.

Despres also shared with the selectmen L.D. 1924, which will go into effect in 2005-06. That legislation promises a ramp up/ramp down system, with the state picking up additional costs so that school costs to the town are reduced.

In the first year, the decrease is to be 3.5 percent, followed by another 3.5 and two 4 percent reductions bringing about a 15 percent reduction between 2005-2010.

However, The Essential Programs and Services included in the legislation will cut off circuit breakers, which have helped schools in transportation, special services and vocational education costs.

That is one of the reasons the district is instituting single-run busing this fall. Continuing the two runs would cost an additional $140,000, he said.

In another year, it will be more difficult in special services because the state will support only students who pass certain criteria, he said. Any others who need the services will be at local expense.

Despres advised the board that the public forum on the proposed budget will be at 7 p.m. May 27 at the Middle School. The referendum vote will be June 8.

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