By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

As Lake Region area town managers pieced together their budgets, they waited — likely holding their breaths — for one vital figure to arrive.

What will be our school tax?

The answer is in.

SAD 61 Finance Coordinator Sherrie Proctor walked the full School Board through the proposed 2023-24 budget last Wednesday night during a workshop session.

The bottom line is the proposed budget is creeping close to $35 million — $34,849,044.

The increase to local taxpayers is $1,458,780.

Superintendent of Schools Al Smith explained that tax assessment is still based on state valuation and student population figures. Enrollment figures for each town (April/October average): Bridgton 596, Casco 385.5 and Naples 558.5 for a total of 1,540.

So, what is the price tag for each town?

• Bridgton — $10,401,466, an increase of $507,053 or 5.12%. Last year, Bridgton experienced a $297,112 tax hike.

• Casco — $6,691,973, an increase of $365,689 or 5.78%. Last year, Casco saw a $167,119 decrease in tax assessment. In 2021-22, Casco’s tax dropped $145,659 from the previous year.

• Naples — $8,081,536, an increase of $586,038 or 7.82%. Last year, Naples experienced a $517,029 tax decrease. In 2021-22, the town saw its tax assessment jump $86,060.

Budget overview

What is driving this budget? As one might expect, rising costs due to inflation and salaries/benefits (see accompanying pie chart).

Proctor noted that 81% of the budget is negotiated salaries — $20,941,818. Meanwhile, benefits cost $6,743,545. So, of the $34-plus million, $27,685,363 is tied to personnel.

New staff requests totaled over $500,000, which were paid with federal money through the Education Stabilization Fund. Congress set aside $13.2 billion for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). Three stimulus packages were created — two for Covid relief, one as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Proctor reported that SAD 61 has ESSER funds remaining and will carry that money forward to 2023-24, thus preserving “most, if not all” requested positions.

However, SAD 61 will need to budget money next year for its Pre-K program, which is using ESSER funds now, but that money dries up after this budget period.

Health insurance is expected to rise, at least 6%.

The district looked to purchase two buses at $190,493, but removed that item from the budget. However, officials hope to fund one bus by using Transportation Reserve funds.

Operation and maintenance special projects totaled $217,000, but the number was trimmed back to $101,000.

Proctor explained that the state increased the mil rate from 7.1 to 7.29, causing a $1 million increase to the local share, which taxpayers will need to pick up.

One break for taxpayers is the Food Service line. In past years, SAD 61 has requested $100,000 in a separate warrant line to cover losses incurred by the food program. This year, there is a fund balance, so there will be no request on this year’s warrant.

Proctor then read through the warrant list, and numbers attached. See pie chart for those costs.

Time to install generators?

Winter storms left many in the region without power for several days, bringing attention to the need for warming centers.

Crooked River is outfitted with a generator, and can act as a warming center or a community shelter if disaster strikes. Superintendent Smith suggested that SAD 61 ask taxpayers whether to phase in generator purchases for other school facilities.

While outfitting the high school, middle school, Stevens Brook Elementary, Songo Locks School and the Essential Services Building (ESB) all at once would be very costly — estimated at $1.465 million, Smith recommended to the School Board to include a separate warrant article asking taxpayers to add generators at the high school ($365,000) and Stevens Brook Elementary ($255,000) as Phase 1.

The high school is the largest facility, which has food service capability as well as shower facilities. With Crooked River being able to serve Casco and Naples residents, Stevens Brook could assist Bridgton residents left without power.

(The School Board was unaware during this discussion that the Bridgton Select Board has supported spending $60,000 to install a generator at the Community Center.)

Andy Madura, director of Transportation, Maintenance and Food Service, pitched the idea of including the ESB ($165,000) since it is the hub of district operations.

“We were close to a complete catastrophe and there was nothing we could do about it,” said Madura referring to the power outages during frigid days that left officials on edge whether pipes would freeze. “Our electrical systems are very vulnerable.”

Directors, however, felt the high school and SBES total is a big ask with taxpayers staring at a steep hike this year.

Lake Region Middle School and Songo Locks price tags would be $315,000 and $245,000 respectively. A $120,000 price contingency puts the total package at the $1.465 million figure.

The board decided to go with the LRHS/SBES option in a separate warrant article.

Superintendent Smith will be meeting with town managers and Select Boards over the next few weeks to talk about the budget and answer questions officials might have.