$35.6M budget is passed despite Arundel’s rejection
By MATT KIERNAN
Staff Writer
In the second go-round for the Regional School 21 budget, the district’s voters cast their ballots in favor of the $35.6 million proposed education budget Tuesday and chose school board candidates.
Despite failing in Arundel, the budget won a majority of votes from the district’s three towns combined, with 1,662 residents voting in favor of, and 1,219 voting against.
Arundel residents voted 189 yes to 368 no; Kennebunk, 1,024 yes to 675 no; and Kennebunkport voted 449 yes to 176 no.
Of the school board candidates elected for three-year terms, Diane Robbins was chosen to represent Arundel with 376 votes to Leia Lowery’s 198 votes. Kevin Knight and Arthur Leblanc both won seats for Kennebunk, with 749 and 1,042 votes, respectively, to beat out Robert Higgins’ 728 votes. For Kennebunkport, Maureen King won a one-year term with 372 votes against Alicia Kellett’s 185 votes.
Brad Huot of Kennebunk, with 965 votes to Edward Karytko’s 660 votes, will hold a one-year term on the 14-member board to take the place of Ed Geoghan.
Despite failing in Arundel, the budget won a majority of votes from the district’s three towns combined, with 1,662 residents voting in favor of, and 1,219 voting against.
Arundel residents voted 189 yes to 368 no; Kennebunk, 1,024 yes to 675 no; and Kennebunkport voted 449 yes to 176 no.
Of the school board candidates elected for three-year terms, Diane Robbins was chosen to represent Arundel with 376 votes to Leia Lowery’s 198 votes. Kevin Knight and Arthur Leblanc both won seats for Kennebunk, with 749 and 1,042 votes, respectively, to beat out Robert Higgins’ 728 votes. For Kennebunkport, Maureen King won a one-year term with 372 votes against Alicia Kellett’s 185 votes.
Brad Huot of Kennebunk, with 965 votes to Edward Karytko’s 660 votes, will hold a one-year term on the 14-member board to take the place of Ed Geoghan.
The budget was reduced by $100,000 after the Finance Committee reported to the school board that health insurance costs for school employees would be raised 6 1/2 percent, rather than 10 percent, which was estimated during the last referendum on May 24.
“We have to estimate that each year because the budget is developed prior to those numbers coming to us from Anthem (insurance company),” said Andrew Dolloff, superintendent of schools, at the June 6 school board meeting.
In addition to lowering costs, approximately $668,000 of the budget will be paid for by the district using undesignated funds to decrease residents’ taxes.
“I don’t think they cut enough out of the budget,” said Beth Gillespie of Arundel, adding that she voted for Diane Robbins for school board because she believes Robbins will speak well for the people of Arundel.
“I didn’t vote for the budget because it’s much too high,” said Michael Frost, resident of Arundel. Frost said he voted for Arthur Leblanc and Brad Huot for school board because of how personable they are.
“We have to estimate that each year because the budget is developed prior to those numbers coming to us from Anthem (insurance company),” said Andrew Dolloff, superintendent of schools, at the June 6 school board meeting.
In addition to lowering costs, approximately $668,000 of the budget will be paid for by the district using undesignated funds to decrease residents’ taxes.
“I don’t think they cut enough out of the budget,” said Beth Gillespie of Arundel, adding that she voted for Diane Robbins for school board because she believes Robbins will speak well for the people of Arundel.
“I didn’t vote for the budget because it’s much too high,” said Michael Frost, resident of Arundel. Frost said he voted for Arthur Leblanc and Brad Huot for school board because of how personable they are.
Others thought the school board did all they could to cut down costs.
“I voted for the budget because I believe that education is important,” said an Arundel resident who declined to give her name. The woman said she has grandchildren in the RSU 21 system and that its unfortunate the towns have to pay such a high cost, but that it’s worth it for the kids.
From the budget, Arundel property owners are estimated to see an increase in taxes of $59.87 per $100,000 in property value, Kennebunk $16.45 and Kennebunkport $8.41.
Among the articles passed will be funding for regular instruction costs, transportation, technical education and facilities maintenance.
The budget was forwarded to the referendum after voters accepted the it during the RSU 21 budget meeting June 7.
— Staff Writer Matt Kiernan can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 326, or at mkiernan@journaltribune.com
“I voted for the budget because I believe that education is important,” said an Arundel resident who declined to give her name. The woman said she has grandchildren in the RSU 21 system and that its unfortunate the towns have to pay such a high cost, but that it’s worth it for the kids.
From the budget, Arundel property owners are estimated to see an increase in taxes of $59.87 per $100,000 in property value, Kennebunk $16.45 and Kennebunkport $8.41.
Among the articles passed will be funding for regular instruction costs, transportation, technical education and facilities maintenance.
The budget was forwarded to the referendum after voters accepted the it during the RSU 21 budget meeting June 7.
— Staff Writer Matt Kiernan can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 326, or at mkiernan@journaltribune.com
Directly from The Arrow (Arundel's Newsletter)
ReplyDelete"The Selectmen and the Budget Board decided that the town needed to take immediate action in the four areas discussed previously and determined to be a priority. The municipal portion of the budget being presented to the voters at Town Meeting represents a $76 per year increase to the average taxpayer's bill based on a home valued at $200,000. This increase comes after three years of budgets in which the mil rate stayed the same but the municipal portion of the budget was redued in order to absorb increased costs and lack of funding for the future. This could not continue and therefore it was decided to do what was needed to move the town forward. This was a dicision that was not taken lightly by elected officials and department heads."
For clarification purposes only, the munipal portion of our tax bills was reduced to offset increased education costs.
Please do not make people feel bad for their American right to vote the way they deem appropriate.
What ever your opinion is please stay involved. We need to educate cost effectively, and we need to run our town. (1)
Hey, to go for three years without an increase is pretty good in this economy.
ReplyDeleteThe question then becomes, how does our town increase revenue to prevent *having* to raise taxes?
(2)
Good luck. The state is decreasing our revenue faster than we will ever be able to replace it.
ReplyDeleteNot always the right thing to do (2). From what I read in the Arrow is that we neglected our roads, and safety equipment for the FD, town hall where it needs to be replaced, all of these things I would believe that it would have been cheaper to plan and maintain rather than replace. A good start to generating revenue would be to have the FD start billing out for calls for service, not just ambulance calls. We could have also business licensing.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: I believe that the state is going to be increasing revenue to towns like Arundel next year. It is in the works right now, and in addition to that the House and Senate just passed Charter Schools in which I believe would be beneficial to all districts.
(1)
Thank you, to those using the numbers in order to keep the conversation understandable. Much appreciated! :)
ReplyDeleteI guess I was looking at it from the 'consumer' perspective, versus the maintenance/repair side. I see your point.
ReplyDeleteThere's a new business going up on 111 (the butter people - can't remember the company name!); will this bring in any revenue to the town?
Is there a model that you think would work for billing Fire Department calls? Are there any towns nearby who already do it, and have they been successful? (2)
Kate's Butter is going up. The Planning Board has also worked on making Arundel more business friendly. Revenue could be generated is the town was more business friendly, to help offset additional tax increases impacted by RSU 21. I am not saying that the RSU should continue raising taxes either. Many pieces to the puzzle. (2)
ReplyDeleteThe post at 3:38, was me, (1) not (2). Sorry, my bad.
ReplyDeleteanon (1)- Are you suggesting that it is the school budget that has made Arundel neglect the other departments of our town? (3)
ReplyDelete