At a special meeting, the School Committee (SC) voted 5-2 to reduce the FY21 budget request previously sent to the Town Council. Although representing a 4.15% increase over the FY20 budget, if approved, the $42,714,455 FY21 budget would not increase the mil rate.
The SC eliminated $35,000 for an additional Ed Tech for special education, reduced technology maintenance by $20,000, eliminated $252,150 for capital improvements, reduced by $80,000 monies allocated to the town to cover a change in auditing procedures for summer insurance, and added $310,000 in revenue from the Fund Balance which is currently in excess of the State recommendation.
Assuming General Purpose Aid from the State remains the same and the FY21 property tax base increases by $21 million, Gorham would meet the need for local appropriation by approving this budget, and therefore, require no tax increase for schools.
SC members Bill Benson and Phillip Gagnon voted against the motion to approve the revised budget. Benson said the budget did not reflect the overall need to reduce operations costs, which was the same reason he did not support the original FY21 budget submitted to the Town Council.
In other business, both Benson and Gagnon voted against hiring personnel nominated by the superintendent because they believed new positions should not be filled before the budget was approved by the Town Council and the voters. Perry said that the SC has voted to hire for new positions before budget approval in the past to be competitive for the most qualified candidates. The SC voted 5-2 to fill these positions.
The Town Council will vote on the revised budget on June 16. If approved, it will go to the voters on July 14 for a referendum vote.