02/27/2013

School Board begins review of proposed $22.5 million budget for 2013-14

Attrition and sharing resources wherever possible will be keys to meeting fiscal demands without compromising quality education, according to the annual budget message submitted by Cape Elizabeth School Superintendent Meredith Nadeau.

The School Board took their first look at Nadeau's $22.5 million proposed spending plan for 2013-14 in a workshop meeting Feb. 26, 2013.

Proposed spending is up $712,621, 3.3 percent over this year's budget of $21.8 million. Nearly half of that increase, $300,000, are retirement costs that are not covered by the state's biennial budget proposal for the coming fiscal years.

The proposed budget leaves $19.6 million to be raised by taxes, up 3.8 percent and adding 41 cents to the tax rate. A home valued at $314,000 would see a $129 increase in taxes for school services.

General purpose aid from the state is slated to increase by $190,640, up 9.4 percent over the $2 million allocated for this year. A $196,8730 curtailment of the 2012 allocation was issued in December. In addition, changes in Medicaid laws are resulting in projected reimbursements for services at $200,000, less than half of the $480,000 Medicaid reimbursement of last year.

To help make up for the shortfalls, $350,000 of undesignated fund balances is scheduled to be carried over from the current year. Typcially the annual undesignated fund carry over is $250,000.

For more information, including links to spreadsheets, presentations and video from the Feb. 26 workshop, please see the School Department's budget page.

The next board budget workshop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 in the High School Library, when the discussion will focus on salaries and benefits. All meetings are scheduled to be videotaped.

School Budget Workshop Schedule: All meetings at 6:30 p.m., High School Library [directions]

Tuesday, March 5

• Community Services/Pool
• Captial Improvement Plan
• Facilities
• Maintenance & Transportation
• Instructional Support
  

Tuesday, March 19

• Staffing and Benefits
• Pond Cove, Middle and High Schools
• Technology
• Staff and Student Support
• Athletics
  

Tuesday, March 26

• Contingency
• Revenues/Undesignated Funds
• Three-year Plan
• Any unfinished items
  
• School Budget Adoption (tentative)

Thursday, March 28

• Additional meeting if needed