03/15/2015

State appropriation eases Cape's loss of school subsidy

Cape Elizabeth's loss of school subsidy for 2016-17 will still be substantial, but likely not as severe as originally thought.

The state Department of Education on March 15 published revised preliminary state subsidy allocations for 2016-17, following the Legislature's appropriation of $15 million more in state aid to education, supplementing the $986 million appropriated last July.

The revised spreadsheet shows Cape Elizabeth slated to receive $2.62 million in state subsidy next year, down $778,728.94 from this year's $3.4 million but $195,640.49 more than projected in late January. Spreadsheets published then, before the extra appropriation, predicted a $2.43 million subsidy for Cape Elizabeth in 2016-17, $974,369.43 less than this year's.

The School Board continues its budget deliberations at a 6:30 p.m. workshop today, March 15, 2016, at the High School library. Superintendent Meredith Nadeau has proposed a $24.5 million school budget for next year, up 4 percent over this year's.