The Gorham School Committee voted 7-0 on April 12 to approve a $52,294,845 budget for the 2023-24 school year. This represents a 12.64% increase over the current year’s budget. The increase of just under $6 million is more $2 million less than Superintendent Heather Perry’s original proposal and represents mainly unavoidable operating expenses and deferred maintenance.
As explained by Superintendent Perry, anticipated costs to maintain current services account for $2,100,000 of the increase. The pre-Kindergarten program, which will receive a state subsidy, is budgeted at $1,614,406. There is $1,025,000 allocated to capital improvement projects (CIP).Energy costs are anticipated to increase by $330,000, special education by $330,000, technology needs by $260,000, textbooks by $114,000, and $120,000 for the central office which includes implementing new software. Added together, these add up to $5,893,406, which equals roughly the amount the F24 budget exceeds the current F23 budget.
The School Committee submitted its proposed budget to the Town Council and participated in a joint workshop on April 25 which was recorded and can be accessed from the Town website. The Town Council will vote on the budget on May 16. At the June 13 election, voters in the town of Gorham will be asked to approve the final budget figure as determined by the Town Council.
Following the April 12 vote, members of the School Committee shared their views on their budget and on the process. Stewart McCallister said that this budget takes care of students’ educational, social, and emotional needs in a way that is sustainable. James Brockman said, “There are no unreasonable requests. The process involved a lot of cutting including $1.3 million in capital improvements, a crossing guard, and $5,000 from the athletic program. CIP projects are not going away and will be more expensive in the future.”
Jennifer Whitehead agreed that $2 million cut from CIP is shortsighted and that further cuts would directly affect students. Nicole Hudson said that the increased costs were in order to give students what they need now.
Anne Schools felt that the budget meetings and the process was efficient. “We did not meet our target, however, we prioritized people and positions and some capital improvement needs that had been put off too long.”
In commenting on the next steps in the process, Sarah Perkins said that it involves solutions that recognize that the School Committee looks at the needs of students and the Town Council is concerned with the needs of town taxpayers.
Chairman Darryl Wright said that “We pay taxes as well, so we are raising our own taxes. These decisions are not made within a bubble.” He emphasized that we want to prepare students to be successful in life and since the pandemic, student needs have increased.
“These are needs; there have been no ‘wants’ for years. I am impressed with what the professionals can do with what we provide them,” he said, “and I wish we could address more needs. We spend less per student than the Cumberland County average and below the state average. We do more with less and there comes a point where you can’t do this anymore.”
Wright urged people to reach out and let the Town Council know their response to the budget before the May 16 vote. “We want to hear from the community. Be respectful, but share your opinions.”