“I would like to make an amendment to the amendment” could be heard echoing throughout Wales Central School Saturday, as tax-cutters and school budget supporters battled over one warrant article in a three-hour-plus 2006-7 school budget debate at the annual town meeting.
Prior to that vote, taxpayers agreed to appropriate and raise $339,333 locally, in order to receive $1,595,328 from the state’s Essential Programs and Services (EPS) Funding Act.
Problems arose immediately after in the following article when the school board asked to raise and appropriate an additional $470,691 for costs the EPS system did not cover. The figure exceeded the state’s recommendation by $335,351.
School board member Robert English said the board had already attempted to reduce the budget this year, and any further cuts could possibly result in some programs being dropped.
State Sen. John Nutting backed the school budget, and said the EPS system was not designed properly for the state of Maine. “Urban school funding for rural Maine,” is how he described the state’s plan to resolve the school funding matter. “The wealthy towns have gotten wealthy, and because of that there have been more losers.”
“The EPS system cap is unrealistic for small towns and I have seen this problem increase throughout the 10 town meetings I have attended,” he said. “All of this because Gov. John Baldacci’s (plan) passed by a margin of one vote.”
School board member Russell Swift said he joined the board not to be an educator, but to cut taxes. “If you vote to cut the budget, and you should, people will see a cut in programs. Staff will get cut.”
Many residents felt that by rejecting or reducing the budget that it would catch the Legislature’s attention. “If we say we can’t afford this, then the school board and the state will realize this system is not working,” resident Robert McAtee said. “We should look at funding on a regional basis, that would be fairer.”
After a motion to amend the article to be cut back to $270,00 failed by a tie vote of 63-63, resident Elbert Derick tried again for $269,000.
“There is something very wrong with our fiscal situation in Maine and Wales,” Derick said. “Last year we celebrated a slight decrease in tax commitment due to an increase in state funding of schools. This year we see it proposed to throw caution to the wind, and spend far beyond our needs.”
School budget supporters swatted the $269,000 amendment down 63-66. Several failed motions later, and with only one amendment left, Derick recommended $268,000.
Moderator and Selectman Randy Greenwood said due to the number of times the article had been voted on and amended, if the $268,000 amendment did not pass the town would be forced to allot $0 with a possibility of reconsideration.
After the mutli-hour debate, and numerous secret ballots, the $268,000 amendment was approved.
The vote cut the $2,086,168 budget to $1,883,477- a reduction of $202,691.
The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 13, in the school library.
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