BURNHAM — Voters in Burnham will be casting their ballots for the proposed SAD 53 school budget during the July 14 elections. 

SAD 53 serves the communities of Burnham, Detroit and Pittsfield. Burnham is the only SAD 53 community, however, within the Penobscot Bay Pilot coverage area. 

Question One: School Budget

Shall the district appropriate the sum of $12,989,735 and raise the sum of $5,464,689.28 for the 2020-2021 school budget. 

The amount of $5,464,689.28 in locally raised funds is to be assessed in shares to member municipalities in accordance with the district’s cost sharing formula and state law. 

The locally raised amount exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services funding model by $2,201,174.60. 

The school board recommends a YES vote. 

Article 11: The school board recommends the district appropriate the amounts set forth below for the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act and to raise and assess the amounts set forth below as each municipality’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12. 

Total Appropriated, by municipality
Burnham: $1,658,466.41
Detroit: $1,581,256.62
Pittsfield: $7,054,916.37
Total: $10,294,639.40

Total Raised, and district assessments, by municipality
Burnham: $761,967
Detroit: $504,024.34
Pittsfield: $1,993,602.34
Total: $3,259,593.68

Article 12: The school board recommends the district raise and appropriate $3,921 for the annual payments on debt service previously approved by the district voters for non-state-funded school construction projects or non-state-funded portions of school construction projects in addition to the funds appropriated as the local share of the district’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education. 

Article 13: The school board recommends the district raise and appropriate $2,201,174.60 in additional local funds, which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services funding model by $2,201,174.60 as required to fund the budget recommended by the board. 

The board gives the following reasons for exceeding the funding model: 

The EPS funding model does not recognize fully the cost of transportation, special education, district administration, co-curricular and extra-curricular programs. 

Article 14: The board recommends the district authorize the board to expend $12,989,735 for the fiscal year from the district’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education, non-state-funded school construction projects, additional local funds for school purposes, unexpended balances, tuition receipts, state subsidy and other receipts for the support of schools. 

Question Two: Adult Education Program

Shall the district be authorized to appropriate $28,929 for adult education and raise $7,000 as the local share, with authorization to expend any additional, incidental, or miscellaneous receipts in the interest and for the well-being of the adult education program? 

The school board recommends a YES vote. 

Question Three: New Capital Reserve Fund

Shall the school board be authorized to establish a Capital Reserve Fund for school constructions, renovation, and maintenance projects and capital equipment purchases; and to transfer up to $50,000 from available fund balances to said Reserve Fund; and to expend amounts in said Reserve Fund for the above-stated purposes. 

The school board recommends a YES vote.