By Nate Jones
Staff Writer
In a 5 to 2 vote on June 26, the Cape Elizabeth Town Council approved sending a $19.9 million school budget – an increase of 6 percent from last year’s budget – to a public hearing scheduled for July 14. Councilors James Rowe and Paul McKenny were in the minority.
“I think it’s too high,” said Rowe, who had suggested a 5.3 percent increase as a compromise.
The 6 percent increase, prepared by Superintendent Allan Hawkins, allocates nearly $621,000 for salaries and benefits of current school employees, approximately $33,000 for classroom furniture, nearly $9,000 for classroom equipment and an athletic budget of more than $24,000.
Councilor Sarah Lennon, who has supported a minimum 6 percent increase from the beginning of the budget season, says the funds are desperately needed to get Cape Elizabeth schools “back on an even keel” after years of being under funded.
“There are textbooks more than 10 years old,” she said. “[Increased school funding] is what a majority of residents have wanted for years.”
Town Manager Michael McGovern said combined with the approved $8.8 million municipal budget, the proposed budget would raise property taxes by roughly 6.6 percent, an increase of $1.08 per $1,000 of assessed value. Lennon said she was aware this year’s increase was larger than normal –at that rate of increase the tax rate would double in 10 years.
“Nobody wants higher taxes, but this is a catch-up year. I’m proud of my town for knowing that,” she said.
If approved by the council a second time, the second school budget validation referendum could be scheduled for July 22, which, per the new school consolidation laws, would be within 14 calendar days of the council’s final approval.
“I would take it to the bank that we will send a 6 percent budget to the referendum,” Council Chairman Mary Ann Lynch said.
On June 10 nearly 1,900 residents voted against a 4.6 percent school budget increase and – according to results collected from a second advisory question asking voters if they thought the budget was too high or too low ­– more than 1,600 voters were in favor of increasing school funding by more than the 4.6 percent.
Lynch said although she voted to send the 6 percent budget to voters, she will be casting a “no, too high” vote on the day of the referendum.
“The message in June was ‘We want to vote on the 6 percent budget,’” she said. “In the name of democracy, I’m willing to give the people that.”