PARIS — Preliminary state subsidy figures show the Oxford Hills School District could see a reduction of slightly more than $210,000 in the 2016-17 share for local education.

“It isn’t huge, but it’s a hit compared to last year,” School Administrative District 17 Superintendent Rick Colpitts said.

Last year, the district saw an increase of $892,022 in the local share because the state determined the value of the district had increased by 14 percent while the value of the state has decreased by 5 percent.

Voters from the eight district towns — Paris, Norway, Oxford, Harrison, Waterford, West Paris, Hebron and Otisfield — approved a $38.2 million budget last June. Approval of this year’s budget is set for June 9 with a follow-up budget validation referendum on June 14.

The Maine Department of Education issued preliminary state subsidy numbers for the 2016-17 year on Jan. 29. Final numbers are not available until after the Legislature enacts the state budget. The preliminary figures are to help guide school districts in their budget-making process.

SAD 17 Business Manager Cathy Fanjoy Coffey said the total state subsidy is set at $17.82 million, which includes the general subsidy of $15.88 million and the debt service allocation of $1.94 million.

Advertisement

“That is down $212,235 from last year,” she said.

The state uses a complex — and some say controversial — formula to determine the amount of money a school district needs from the state to provide students with basic educational needs. The program is known as Essential Programs and Services.

Colpitts said the state subsidy is based on a number of factors, including property valuations.

Schools provide the Department of Education with annual data, including student population, debt and town valuations. Those numbers are used to determine how much of the subsidy pool each school district gets.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: