BIDDEFORD — On Thursday, in a 6-3 vote, Biddeford City Council approved a $33.6 million K-12 education budget for fiscal year 2015, with Councilors Marc Lessard, Robert Quattrone and Council President John McCurry voting in opposition.

If the council gives final approval and the public votes in favor at a public referendum in June, this budget would cost local property taxpayers an additional $117,000, a 0.54 percent increase over the current year’s budget, said Superintendent Jeremy Ray.

The actual dollar increase between last and this year’s budget is nearly $1 million ”“ about a 3 percent increase. But the impact to taxpayers is reduced by new revenue, including more than $100,000 from sharing the superintendent with the Dayton School Department as well as the city’s food services director with both Dayton and RSU 23, which will only include Old Orchard Beach students next year, and nearly $800,000 in carryover funds.

While some may feel the increase is too high, said Ray, he noted that Biddeford is one of the few school districts that funds education at below the Essential Programs and Services level ”“ the amount that the state says should be a minimum funding level.

With only a 0.54 percent tax increase, City Councilor Bob Mills said, “This is a phenomenal budget. I fully support it.”

Lessard emphasized that the actual budget increase was 3 percent, and that the carryover funds were a one-time revenue. He said he wanted it to be clear in budget discussions next year that if there weren’t additional carryover funds in the education budget, they would start with a 3 percent increase “right out of the gate.”

“I want everyone to remember,” said Lessard.

In future years, increasing enrollment is one way to raise money, said Mayor Alan Casavant.

Lessard said he didn’t think it was the role of the school department to look at ways to increase enrollment.

Funding education has been difficult for several years and will continue to be so, said Ray.

“You can’t cut your way out of this,” he said. “You’ve got to build something,” and adding more students is one way do so.

Several residents spoke about the budget, some in favor and one against.

Resident Ron Peaker said there are several ways the budget could be lowered without impacting students. One suggestion was to eliminate the assistant principal position, and he also suggested removing funds to purchase two new school buses.

The buses are to be paid for by the school district this year; the funds are to be reimbursed to the district by the state next year.

Peaker said he didn’t trust the state to repay the money.

“These buses are at the end of” their lives, said school committee member Dennis Anglea, and need to be replaced for students’ safety.

Resident Bob Leonard said he moved to Biddeford 15 years ago because he heard the city was improving. That didn’t happen initially, he said, but “finally, I am seeing things getting better.

However, he said, while people are investing in the downtown, “we’re not investing in our schools.”

Increasing the school budget and having good schools is the way to attract people to the city, said Leonard.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].