Last night's RSU5 board meeting was revealing and very difficult - and it
foretells a real wrestling match throughout this year's budget cycle. * It
will be critical for everyone to become engaged and educated about this
process if we are going to ensure our schools are adequately funded under
this consolidation.*
Between increased costs of running the consolidated district, state funding
cuts, and lost grant money (due to consolidation), the 2009-2010 budget as
proposed will require a substantial increase in local tax dollars for all
three towns. Last night Pownal residents stood up in force to protest the
increase in their share of the costs of the district.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=249908&ac=PHnws
Board members from Pownal requested the superintendent come up with a
"budget that hurts" in order to reduce their contribution. They also
suggested that the cost-sharing formula should be renegotiated to lean more
on the Freeport tax base.
Either of these suggestions is unacceptable - Freeport cannot afford to
further subsidize the education of students in Pownal and Durham more than
the current cost sharing system already requires - and it is NOT acceptable
to eviscerate the school budget.
The 2009-2010 school budget will be cut from the current recommendation. If
you want to have a voice in where and how deeply these cuts are made - *please
attend the next RSU budget board meeting - Wednesday, April 15 @ 6:30PM @
Freeport High School Library - and write to the RSU board at board at rsu5.org
*
Sincerely,
pete
peter m. murray
pete at pmurray.com
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