ROCKLAND, Maine — Nearly 200 residents overwhelmingly backed the $25.9 million 2015-2016 budget for the area school district Thursday night despite sharp tax hikes it will impose on communities.
The budget now goes to residents at the polls on June 9 in the five communities of Regional School Unit 13.
Some Rockland residents made efforts to cut money from the budget during the four-hour meeting, saying the $1.2 million in additional property taxes that the city will have to raise is too great.
“I’m sick and tired of Rockland always taking it on the nose,” said resident Sharon Spaulding. Spaulding served as assistant to superintendents in Rockland for more than 30 years before retiring when the two districts merged several years ago.
Rockland resident Steve Carroll said cuts were needed. He proposed cutting $700,000 from the instruction budget but that was rejected with only about 30 of the 200 residents supporting the cuts. Carroll said it appeared that most of the people at the meeting were either school employees or parents.
Residents also overwhelmingly rejected a proposal by Rockland resident Peter Smith, a former school board chairman, to cut $1.6 million from the budget in an effort to close Oceanside High School West in Thomaston. Board member Donald Robishaw of Rockland said that efficiency is needed by consolidating the two high schools.
Board member Esther “Tess” Kilgour said the district has seen a decline in students since RSU 13 was formed but the district has not made the necessary reductions in staff and buildings.
Former Mayor Brian Harden said that if the district does not cut the budget, there will be a greater impetus for the city to withdraw from RSU 13.
Attorney Paul Gibbons, who represents the Thomaston Board of Selectmen, urged the gathering to postpone the budget meeting for a week so the district could provide a more thorough analysis of the financial impact of St. George’s departure from the school district.
But those speakers were in the minority.
Dave Matthews of Owls Head, a former board member, said the budget was a responsible one.
Resident Nicole Hatch said if the district cut money for instruction, fewer families will want to have their children enroll in RSU 13 and that will mean less state aid.
The $25.9 million budget, if approved at the polls, will have Rockland pay an additional $1.2 million in property taxes. Thomaston would pay an additional $576,000, Cushing $430,000, Owls Head $295,000 and South Thomaston $197,000.
The City Council had urged the public to turn out and make appropriate meaningful cuts. The council is considering making staff and program cuts in the city.
The budget will result in the elimination of three teaching positions at the middle schools because of reduced enrollment. The proposed budget adds an assistant principal at the South Elementary School in Rockland, a gifted and talented program teacher, and a custodian to serve the South Elementary School and Rockland District Middle School.
Another proposed addition involves a pre-K program consisting of three classrooms, which would be paid for with a federal grant.
The budget also includes $800,000 for pay raises (averaging 3 percent) and higher benefit costs.