06/09/2015

Voters approve 2015-16 school budget

The $23.5 million school budget adopted by the Town Council on May 11 was approved by voters in a validation election June 9, 2015.

A total of 876 ballots were cast, for an unofficial voter turnout of approximately 11 percent. Of those, 635 voted to approve the budget; 236 voted against.

In a separate advisory vote, 231 said they believed the $23.5 million figure was acceptable, but 274 said it was too high, and 363 said it was too low.

The 2015-16 validated school budget, $23,536,649 compared to $23,240,174 for this year, is up 1.3 percent but adds nothing to the overall $17.12 Cape Elizabeth tax rate forecast for next fiscal year. Of that 32-cent increase, 25 cents is attributable to the town budget, 3 cents to the county assessment, and 4 cents to the Community Services budget.

There were five blank ballots on the budget and eight blank ballots on the advisory question.

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Unofficial results:

 

School Budget Validation Referendum

Do you favor approving the Town of Cape Elizabeth school budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the latest school budget meeting of the Town Council?

YES ..... 635
NO ...... 236

The following is a non-binding expression of opinion for the consideration of the School Board and Town Council.

I find the school budget adopted at the May 11, 2015 Town Council’s school budget meeting to be:

TOO HIGH ........... 274
ACCEPTABLE ...... 231
TOO LOW ........... 363