SAD 22 official warns of tax cap’s potential impact

WINTERPORT – The proposed tax cap to be voted on in November will have “an extremely devastating” effect on SAD 22, possibly resulting in cuts to positions and programs, Superintendent Rick Lyons said Wednesday.

If approved by voters, the so-called Palesky initiative would have “vast implications” for the district, which could lose between $2.4 million and $3.2 million, or 20 to 23 percent, of its revenue, Lyons told the district’s board of directors who met at the Samuel Wagner School.

The controversial measure would cap property taxes at $10 per $1,000 of assessed value, based on values in 1996-97, and limit assessment increases to 2 percent yearly while property ownership remains in a family.

Potential impacts in SAD 22 include the elimination of:

. 30-50 faculty and staff positions.

. all extracurricular activities, including athletics, at the high school and middle school.

. music, art, foreign language and physical education classes, Advanced Placement courses, and library, nursing and guidance services.

. all-day kindergarten.

Some schools likely would have to be closed and, without a sufficient number of programs, the high school and middle schools could lose their accreditation, Lyons said.

In addition, fees for the use of buildings and athletic fields could increase and students and employees could be asked to pay for parking. Fees for transportation to and from school and for participation in clubs and athletics also could be levied.

Tax Cap YES! Spokeswoman Jen Webber said this week that opponents “are looking at how to defeat the property tax cap which is a citizen-initiated referendum, instead of looking for innovative ways to reduce the tax burden or reduce our standing as a state with the highest property taxes in the country.”

Cuts would be based on what public schools are required by law to provide as well as on federal and state mandates, the superintendent said Wednesday.

Next month, the board plans to meet with the district’s three towns of Hampden, Winterport and Newburgh and publish in the SAD 22 newsletter more details about what the tax cap could mean to the schools, Lyons said.

Public information sessions will be held in mid- to late October.

Assistant Superintendent Emil Genest said the school system has told municipalities in the district that it “would take some of the hit” from the lost tax revenue. The towns were appreciative, he said.

According to the tax cap proposal, municipalities could decide to absorb the entire loss of tax revenue.