HAMPDEN – Despite numerous cuts and reductions in the proposed 2008-2009 SAD 22 budget, district taxpayers still will see more than a 3 percent increase.
The board of directors approved May 7 the nearly $23.4 million budget, which is a 3.47 percent total increase compared to last year, and an increase of almost $246,000 in locally raised funds.
To reach the $23.4 million budget, the district has proposed eliminating or reducing teacher, custodial, guidance, education technician, library, coaching and central office positions. Superintendent Rick Lyons said most of the reductions resulted from positions not being filled after retirements and resignations.
Low enrollment for particular subjects, such as Latin and science, and clubs such as the debate and writing clubs at Hampden Academy, led to club stipend cuts and reduced teacher positions, he said. No academic courses will be eliminated as a result of the cuts, Lyons said.
Hampden Academy’s outdoor graduation also is on the chopping block for 2008-2009. Ceremony funding has prompted contentious conversations within the district and at tonight’s board meeting members will discuss whether to partially support the graduation in the future, Lyons said.
“The budget committee looked at the budget with a conservative spirit, but we also have to ensure a quality educational experience in these three communities,” said Christopher Cox, budget committee chairman.
SAD 22 educates students from the towns of Hampden, Winterport and Newburgh. The district will hold an informational session about the budget at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 3, at the Reeds Brook Middle School Library. The district budget meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at the Skehan Gymnasium at Hampden Academy. During the meeting, residents of the three towns will review, alter and vote on 13 funding articles. Residents will then go to the polls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 to vote on the final version of the budget.
Under the proposed budget, Hampden residents will see a .05 percent ($2,656) decrease when compared to last year, while Newburgh residents will have a 7.69 percent increase and residents of Winterport a 9.34 percent increase. Each community’s valuation and student count is used to calculate the district’s cost-sharing formula. Hampden residents pay 61.9 percent of the budget, Newburgh residents 10.47 percent and Winterport residents contribute the remaining 27.63 percent.
Cox said the budget process was difficult this year, especially with rising fuel costs. The district raised its $500,000 budget for diesel fuel and heating oil to $800,000. The $300,000 rise exceeds the increase in locally raised funds, Cox noted.
Fuel and higher medical insurance costs paired with less federal and state funding were the largest factors in the rising budget, Lyons said. Special education positions, which historically have been state and federally funded, are now becoming the responsibility of the district. In the 2008-2009 budget, the state and federal funding pays for only one of the four special education teachers.
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