March 08, 2012 2:00 AM
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120308-NEWS-203080368
KENNEBUNK — The RSU 21 Board of Directors
approved the first reading of the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget
during its Monday night meeting at Kennebunk Elementary School. The
$35.9 million proposed budget, which came in at $246,000, or .69
percent, higher than this year's budget, includes 12 staff cuts,
officials said.
"Our stated desire is to
deliver world-class education at a reasonable cost. We want to minimize
the impact on local taxes while maintaining the highest quality program
that we can," said Kevin Knight, chairman of the Finance Committee. "In
order to do this we are proposing a budget that includes the reduction
12.66 positions, numerous stipends, and supply equipment purchases."
To maintain every aspect of the FY '12 budget
would have required a $1.4 million increase, Knight said, due to
promised wage increases and rising health-care and fuel costs, among
other things. That would have meant a 6.6 percent overall increase to
the local tax assessment, he said. In an effort to minimize the budgets
effect on local taxpayers, the Finance Committee chose another route.
The
proposed budget will, if passed, have a 2.6 percent impact on the
district-wide tax assessment, Knight said. The estimated total tax per
$100,000 of assessed property for Arundel residents would result in a
3.5 percent increase, Kennebunk residents would see a .1 percent
increase and Kennebunkport residents a 4.86 increase. These tax
evaluations are dictated by state formulas, not RSU 21 decisions,
Superintendent Andrew Dolloff said.
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