RSU 20 board looks to public for direction on twice-stricken budget
Belfast voters will weigh in on Aug. 20 on withdrawing from Regional School Unit 20. The district will hold a public forum in the city on the same day seeking direction on the 2013-14 budget, with a second forum to be held in Searsport Aug. 21 and a final vote set for Sept. 17. (Photo illustration by Ethan Andrews)
Belfast voters will weigh in on Aug. 20 on withdrawing from Regional School Unit 20. The district will hold a public forum in the city on the same day seeking direction on the 2013-14 budget, with a second forum to be held in Searsport Aug. 21 and a final vote set for Sept. 17. (Photo illustration by Ethan Andrews)
BELFAST - “For your information, RSU #20 is currently running on the last budget passed by the voters at the Budget Meeting on July 22, 2013.”
So begins a notice posted recently to the Regional School Unit 20 website followed by a schedule of meetings district officials hope will convince voters to sign off on a budget for the 2013-14 school year.
The budget for the current year has been voted down twice at the polls — hence the continuation of last year’s budget. Complicating the matter, both of the previously proposed budgets for 2013-14 have brought out vocal critics on opposite sides of the cost/services debate.
In an attempt to get direction for the third draft of the budget, district officials have added a step to the process, scheduling public forums in Belfast (Tuesday, Aug. 20) and Searsport (Wednesday, Aug. 21) to hear voters out.
Taxes will almost certainly go up as a result of the new budget. When Frankfort left the district this year, RSU 20 lost more money state General Purpose Aid than it saved on the cost of running the town’s elementary school. The district has generally seen declining enrollment, further reducing state aid. Increases in teacher salaries in the district’s first unified contract since consolidation in 2009, and other factors put the coming year’s budget deep in the red from the outset.
District officials initailly proposed $1.8 million in cuts in an effort to soften the inevitable blow to property taxes. Among these were some contentious staff cuts, including the elimination of a number of art teacher positions across the district, the school resource officer and several school secretary positions. Stipends for extra- and co-curricular activity leaders have also been on the chopping block.
A version of the budget with fewer staff cuts and a larger tax increase was rejected in a June 11 referendum. The RSU 20 board returned with a more tax-friendly second draft, which aimed to split the difference between the rejected budget and their original austere recommendations. This too was rejected, leaving district officials wondering which way to go.
Following is a list of budget-related meetings, hearings and the date of the (maybe) final referendum:
Public Forum - Wednesday, Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m., Searsport District High School
Finance Committee Workshops - Thursday, Aug. 22 and Friday, Aug. 23, noon, RSU 20 Central Office, Belfast, and Monday, Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m. Belfast Area High School Band Room
Special Board Meeting to approve the 2013-14 budget - Monday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. (following finance committee meeting), BAHS Band Room
Special Board Meeting to sign warrants - Thursday, Aug. 29, 6:30 p.m. RSU 20 Central Office, Belfast
Budget Public Meeting - Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m., Troy Howard Middle School, Belfast
Budget Referendum Vote - Tuesday, Sept. 17
Belfast voters will have at least one occasion to go to the polls before the budget referendum. A separate referendum on the question of withdrawing from RSU 20 will be held on Aug. 20. Several other towns from the former School Administrative District 34 have received citizen petitions to bring the withdrawal question to a vote, with referendum dates to be determined.
Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com
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