UNITY — After holding a public hearing for the proposed school district budget this week, Regional School Unit 3 is prepared to present the proposed budget for the 2020-2021 school year to voters at the July 14 polls. 

The RSU 3 school district serves the communities of Brooks, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Monroe, Montville, Thorndike, Troy, Unity and Waldo. 

In a letter to voters (see attached PDF for the informational guide for the full letter), RSU 3 Superintendent Charles Brown noted state funding for Fiscal Year 2021 for RSU 3 was reduced by $138,208 in comparison to the funds received in Fiscal Year 2020. 

“The reduced funding is due to several factors included in the Maine Essential Programs and Services Formula (EPS); increases in property value across the district, a decline in enrollment of students, a decline in the number of students
requiring special education services, and a decline in the number of economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, a new state law passed in September 2019, requires the minimum teacher salary to be $40,000 by September 2022, with a
phase in of $35,000 this coming fiscal year,” Brown wrote. 

The proposed budget is $20,496,900, which is an increase of $266,900 or 1.32 percent compared to the 2019-2020 school year. 

With a budget increase of $266,900, a decrease in state funding, a decline in enrollment and a lower state mil rate expectation (8.18 versus 8.28), the local tax assessments will rise by $248,108 or 2.89 percent, according to Brown. 

There were a few key changes made to the district’s operations, as highlighted in the informational guide (attached): 

• A teacher for Mount View Elementary and Mount View Middle was added for a new K-8 transition/RTI program

• The Mount View High internship coordinator was moved from the Regular Instruction budget to the Secondary Instruction budget

• The board adjusted part of the current social worker from guidance budget to the special education budget

• One new social worker position was added and there was a reduction of three special education teachers

• There was a reduction in the district-wide technology director position to part-time administrator

• There was a reduction of one computer technician 

• There was a reduction in funds budgeted for legal services

“The administrative team analyzed all budget components and made difficult, fiscal decisions that led us through a thoughtful development of this budget,” noted Brown. “As a district, we were able to realign resources, both material and personnel, to best meet the needs of our students. While there was an overall decrease in staff, the Board of Directors feels that this budget meets the needs of our students and the resources of the district.” 

Article 1: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Regular Instruction. 

The school board recommends $6,697,300. 

Article 2: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Special Education. 

The school board recommends $3,487,000. 

Article 3: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Career and Technical Education. 

The school board recommends $7,791. 

Article 4: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Other Instruction. 

The school board recommends $516,500. 

Article 5: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Student and Staff Support. 

The school board recommends $1,645,300. 

Article 6: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for System Administration. 

The school board recommends $748,600. 

Article 7: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for School Administration. 

The school board recommends $1,105,000. 

Article 8: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Transportation and Buses. 

The school board recommends $1,660,400. 

Article 9: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Facilities Maintenance. 

The school board recommends $2,246,672. 

Article 10: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for Debt Service and Other Commitments. 

The school board recommends $2,382,337. 

Article 11: To see what sum the district will be authorized to expend for All Other Expenditures. 

The school board recommends $0.00. 

Article 12: To see what sum the district will appropriate for the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten through grade 12 and to see what sum the district will raise and assess as each municipality’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education. 

Total Appropriated, by municipality
Brooks: $1,685,285.48
Freedom: $1,178,521.31
Jackson: $1,050,567.57
Knox: $1,594,370.97
Liberty: $1,452,948.42
Monroe: $1,234,080.17
Montville: $1,727,375.52
Thorndike: $1,459,682.83
Troy: $1,862,063.67
Unity: $2,666,825.37
Waldo: $924,297.44
Total: $16,836,018.75

Total Raised, and district assessments, by municipality
Brooks: $582,007
Freedom: $476,894
Jackson: $301,433
Knox: $445,264.66
Liberty: $1,088,076.34
Monroe: $640,630.34
Montville: $645,674.66
Thorndike: $413,362.66
Troy: $538,789.34
Unity: $1,062,445.66
Waldo: $487,119
Total: $6,681,696.66

Article 13: To see what sum the district will raise and appropriate for the annual payments on debt service previously approved by voters for non-state-funded 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. 

The school board recommends $0.00. 

Article 14 (written ballot required): To see what sum the district will raise and appropriate in additional local funds which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model as required to fund the budget recommended by the school board. 

The school board recommends $2,154,881.25 which exceeds the allocation model by $2,154,881.25. 

The following reasons were provided for exceeding the funding model: 

1. the EPS formula does not meet the essential needs of rural school district with numerous small schools regarding the funding for staff which is based on student count, funding of system administration which is based on student count, funding for building operations which is based on student count, funding of transportation which is based primarily on student density per mile

2. the EPS allocation for special education underestimates the needs and subsequent cost of providing for student’s special needs

3. the EPS funding underestimates the market and delivery costs for fuel

4. the EPS funding allocation assumes that districts will cover the major portion of the costs for co-curricular and athletic student activities

5. the EPS formula does not provide sufficient funds for equitable education of students in rural communities that do not have the enrollment population to receive adequate funding

6. the EPS formula does not provide sufficient funds to offer innovative educational opportunities for the students in rural communities. 

Article 15: To see what sum the district will authorize the school board to expend for July 1 through June 30 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. 

The school board recommends $20,496,900. 

Article 16: To see if the district will raise and appropriate $60,000 for the school nutrition program with authorization to expend any additional, incidental, or miscellaneous receipts in the interest and for the well-being of the school nutrition program.  

The school board recommends $60,000. 

Article 17: To see if the district will appropriate $153,400 for adult education and raise $98,300 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. 

Article 18: In addition to amounts approved in the preceding articles, shall the school board be authorized to expend such other sums as may be received from federal or state grants or programs or other sources during the fiscal year for school and other program purposes, provided that such grants, programs or other sources do not require the expenditure of other funds not previously appropriated? 

The school board recommends a YES vote. 

Article 19: Shall the regional career and technical education operating budget as approved by the cooperative board for July 1 through June 30 be approved in the amount of $1,993,675? 

Article 20: Shall the career and technical education region approve a budget for adult education in the amount of $48,064 for July 1 through June 30 with authorization to expend any additional, incidental, or miscellaneous receipts in the interest and well-being of its adult education program? 

Article 21: Shall the school board be authorized to transfer up to $100,000 from unexpended balances at the end of the 2019-2020 fiscal year to the Capital Reserve Fund for repairs and improvements at the district’s schools and buildings? 

The school board recommends a YES vote. 

Article 22: To see if the district will reduce the amount raised and assessed as each municipality’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education to the extent of any unanticipated increase in the adjusted state contribution under the funding model. 

The school board recommends a YES vote.