PARIS — The SAD 17 budget as proposed shows a 2.12 percent increase in the local share, according to Superintendent Rick Colpitts.

Colpitts told the board of directors Monday night that the proposed $39.1 million spending plan for 2016-17 includes a 2.32 percent overall increase from the current budget of $38.2 million.

“This is by no means settled,” Colpitts said of the budget that will be tweaked by the Budget Committee before it goes before directors for adoption May 2.

Colpitts said the budget addresses a space issue at Oxford Elementary School by creating a fifth-grade teaching position at Otisfield Community School and having the current fourth-grade class remain at Otisfield next year.

The move to return the Otisfield Community School to a kindergarten through grade six school over a two-year period is being made to address the overcrowding issues at Oxford Elementary School.

The proposed budget addresses the need to hire two new bus drivers to relieve bus mechanics from having to drive buses. The budget also restores a half guidance position at the middle school and addresses school facilities’ needs through a separate bond referendum.

The $1.2 million bond will be a referendum question on the June 14 ballot. If approved, the money will be used for a number of repairs, including school roofs and paving needs.

A public hearing will be held on the bond issue at 6 p.m. June 6 at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

The impact of the proposed budget on local taxpayers is based on the state’s valuation of each town, Colpitts said.

“If your town is worth more, you pay more,” he said.

Harrison and Waterford do not get any state support and pay 100 percent of their student costs.

Oxford, Hebron and West Paris this year will pay the highest percentages because of their valuations. Each will see more than a 5 percent increase over last year’s assessment.

Although the assessments seem high to some towns, overall, it is only a 2.12 percent increase in assessments over last year, Colpitts said.

There has been some good news, Colpitts said. The school district learned several days ago that health insurance premiums are being increased by less than 1 percent, which allows the district to save a projected $200,000. That money will be moved into the Contingency Fund.

The district has reached the minimum required share under the state aid funding formula but has not reached the recommended 100 percent share suggested by the state, Colpitts said.

The state uses a complex formula to determine the amount of money a school district needs from the state to provide students with basic educational needs. The state subsidy is based on a number of factors, including property valuations.

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net

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