By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Biddeford School Committee members say they have been forced to make tough decisions while developing a budget that does not cut staff or programs.

During a March 18 budget presentation to the city council, school committee member Laura Seaver said the board cut the budget as much as possible without eliminating programs or jobs. The school committee cut more than $330,000 from the budget at a March 9 meeting, bringing the total proposed budget to $29.6 million.

The proposed school budget is roughly the same as the budget approved by voters last year. The fiscal year 2009-10 budget increased from $29.6 million to roughly $39.6 million with federal stabilization funds.

Still, several city councilors said the cuts do not go far enough because the council had asked both the municipal and school budgets to be prepared with no increase. School Business Manager Terry Gauvin said more than $589,000 would have to be cut from the proposed budget to avoid a tax increase, which could mean cutting 10 positions.

City Finance Director Curt Koehler said the proposed budget would require a tax increase to $15.05 per $1,000 of assessed value from the current rate of $14.78 per $1,000 of assessed value. That increase would add $54 per year to the tax bill for a $200,000 home, he said.

Koehler said those estimates are very preliminary and will change during the budget process. The total tax increase includes increases in the county budget, he said.

The proposed budget includes cuts in instructional supply purchases, staff development and maintenance costs. The budget includes only contractually obligated pay raises and does not add new teachers. The proposal includes:

• A 3.87 percent increase in regular instruction, including a $19,300 decrease in instructional supplies and a $12,500 decrease in books and periodicals. The budget line includes a $189,000 increase because the gifted and talented program was moved out of special education.

• A 3.34 percent decrease in special education, including a $19,000 increase in tuition reimbursement and a $10,000 decrease in books.

• An 11.55 percent increase in student and staff support, due in part to increases in salaries and funding positions that were paid last year with  stabilization funds.

• A 10.11 percent decrease in facilities maintenance, including a $92,600 decrease in repairs to school buildings.

• A 16 percent decrease in debt service because Biddeford Primary School was paid off last November.

Mayor Joanne Twomey, who also is chairman of the school committee, said she hopes the city council and school committee can continue to work together to reduce the budget.

“I’m worried about next year’s budget and the year after that,” she said. “I’m so hoping we can come together. The zero percent is great, but it’s not sustainable.”

Seaver said in the past there was “a perception of contention” between the council and school committee. The two boards “took the bull by the horns” by having two joint budget workshops, she said.

“This allowed us to understand the expectations of the council,” she said. “We’ve been forced to make tough decisions.”

City Councilor George “Pete” Lamontagne said city staff is “doing everything they possibly can” to keep the municipal budget at a zero percent increase and the school is “not coming through” in doing the same. He said work still needs to be done to get the budget down but he remains a strong supporter of the schools.

“We were asked to come up with a budget that doesn’t impact the staff. We have cut everything we can possibly cut before it gets to staff cuts,” Seaver said. “We’re at a loss on where to go from here.”

Councilor Rick Laverriere said “we’re taxed to the hill” in Biddeford, but a small tax increase may be necessary to avoid cuts that are detrimental to students. 

“I want to be able to make sure we have a budget that is workable,” he said.

Councilor Jim Emerson said the council is trying hard to achieve no increase and that may require staff reductions. The boards need to set priorities to make the least harmful reductions, he said.

Councilor Patricia Boston said she wants to ensure taxpayers’ dollars are being spent wisely.

Twomey said the boards still have “to do a little more” work on the budget. School Committee member Nathan Mills said the committee would discuss how to proceed at its March 23 meeting, after the Courier press deadline.