Proposed Lewiston school budget: $46.02 million; last year’s budget: $44.46 million; percent change: 2.97 percent; impact on property taxpayers: $0.

Levesque: Schools won’t increase taxes

LEWISTON – Insisting it’s critical to have good schools but also to be aware of the financial squeeze taxpayers face, School Superintendent Leon Levesque said his proposed budget won’t raise property taxes.

His recommended $46.02 million in school spending is up from $44.46 million last year, a 2.97 percent increase.

The increase in spending will go for staff raises, up about 3 percent; an increase in health benefits, up from 4 to 8 percent; rising gas and oil costs; and a loan payment on the new Farwell Elementary School.

More state money for education, plus a $540,000 surplus Levesque carried over from last year, will help offset the higher costs. Lewiston is receiving $489,969 in new money from the state, but that includes the debt service for the new Farwell, and less for English Language Learner students.

To keep property taxes from increasing because of school spending, Levesque is proposing to turn over part of the surplus to the city as property tax relief.

That money, $324,774, will cover what would have been an increase to property taxpayers in the state education formula because property values have risen. “The school committee is looking at a zero tax increase,” Levesque said. “We’re not asking for any increase” on property taxes.

The school committee is working with the city council as a team for the city, Levesque said. “We know what’s going on in the world here. Families are having a hard time paying for oil.”

Meanwhile, the proposed budget will maintain school personnel, programs and existing student services.

“This budget has very little for technology. All we’re doing is replacement (of computers),” he said. “There are no new programs. We’re very cognizant of the times we’re in right now. … We also realize this is not a rich community.”

School Committee Chairman Thomas Shannon agreed. There are many worthy programs that likely won’t get funded this year, Shannon said. Needs include updated computers to expand technology in classrooms, additional equipment to enhance learning at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center, and a Lewiston Middle School seventh-grade baseball program. “The realities are hard,” Shannon said.

While the budget is lean, what’s important is “to keep our teachers, our instructional staff with kids,” Levesque said, which the budget achieves. “We still have books. We still have athletics. We still have supplies. People still have jobs.”

Other school districts this year are having to cut because of higher fuel, salary and health costs. Lewiston was somewhat prepared, Levesque said. In recent years as the state has given school districts millions more for education and as property tax relief, Lewiston was careful with the money, he said.

For instance, last year some of the money was used for one-time costs, such as the new culinary arts building under construction at the high school campus. “We were anticipating last year the good times don’t last forever.” The school department has worked to provide good services, “but we’re not extravagant,” Levesque said.

The School Committee is scheduled to review school spending with the City Council on March 27, then vote on the budget April 14.

Lewiston residents will vote on the school budget in a May 6 referendum.