FARMINGTON – Members of the school board’s finance committee are expecting a difficult budget season this year, as preliminary figures show a loss of $1.9 million in state subsidy.
The data from the state Department of Education shows that the budget proposed by Governor John Baldacci, which includes a reduction of $92 million for education general aid, would result in an 8.6 percent decrease in state funding for the Mt. Blue Regional School District. The proposed budget would need to be approved by the Legislature in April to be finalized, but few believe the district will not have difficult decisions to make during the April and May budget deliberations.
“I think this is going to be the most difficult budget year ever,” Director Robert Pullo of Wilton, said. “It’s more important than ever that we work together, and we’re doing that.”
The school board has already dealt with $330,000 in budget curtailment orders this fiscal year, through freezing supply accounts, decreasing contingency funds and using $200,000 out of the general fund balance.
That fiscal year’s process was characterized, back in 2009, as difficult, with voters approving a $23,654,291 budget that included the cutting of several positions. That represented a $307,575 decrease from fiscal year 2008-2009, or 1.28 percent.
Directors said that increases in valuation within the MBRSD member towns were a big culprit for the potential decrease in state subsidy.
“Valuations for our communities have all gone up,” Director Mark Prentiss of Industry, said. “It’s kind of a double whammy.”
The finance committee is meeting with program representatives to gather information prior to the budgetary process.
