LEWISTON – City councilors and School Committee members spent an hour and a half Monday discussing the extra state money Lewiston schools will likely get this year.
The meeting was largely cordial, but some school officials balked when one councilor suggested the school system give its extra money to the city.
“It’s not called the municipal bailout fund,” said School Committee Chairman James Handy.
City and school officials use the annual joint workshop to discuss the upcoming budget season. This year, the discussion focused largely on the state aid to schools and changes to the Homestead Exemption, which would save the average Lewiston taxpayer 6.25 percent in property taxes on a single-family home, but would cost the city $1.1 million.
“At minimum, I think we need to hold that tax rate the same,” said City Administrator James Bennett. “And quite frankly, it would be nice to do a little bit of a slide back on the taxes.”
To keep taxes down, Bennett said he expected to fund no new city programs next year. But he said he didn’t want to cut services – especially school services – to pay for a deep tax cut. Others agreed.
Said Superintendent Leon Levesque of the schools’ budget, “We’re going to come in at something that will move the school system ahead, but we’ll come in with something for the city.”
Over the last few years, Lewiston schools have received millions in additional state aid but haven’t received any extra help from local taxpayers. Two years ago, the school system gave the city back about $200,000 to help reduce taxes.
Levesque briefly outlined the school system’s extra needs for next year, including full implementation of all-day kindergarten and more staffing for the special education and English as a Second Language programs.
Because Lewiston must care for a large number of special needs students and because general enrollment has increased, the school system is expected to get millions in additional state aid over the next two years under the new Essential Programs and Services funding model.
Bennett and other city leaders suggested Monday that the school system not look to increase services next year, except for the full-day kindergarten program. Councilor Renee Bernier suggested the school system hand over at least some of its additional state aid to the city for property tax relief.
That issue was not resolved.
Some school and city leaders agreed to meet informally during the budget season to keep track of any “red flags” that could arise.
Bennett said his goal this budget season was to maintain the school system and at least give taxpayers a break with the Homestead Exemption.
“I think that will be a very successful year in my opinion,” he said.
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