BRUNSWICK

Brunswick’s school board has just started work on a nearly $37 million budget, but a request has already come from the town’s administration to eliminate $750,000 from the proposal.

The initial budget proposal, subject to a workshop by the school board Wednesday, represents a $1.2 million, or 3.4 percent, increase.

The town’s share of the proposed school budget amounts to $23.7 million, which would mean a 4 percent increase for Brunswick taxpayers.

Town Manager John Eldridge has requested that the school board limit its increase to 2 percent, according to Superintendent Paul Perzanoski.

As initially proposed, the town’s share of the school budget increase stood at $1.5 million. Eldridge’s request would essentially cut that amount in half, according to Perzanoski.

“I find it curious you have been requested by someone at the town to cut our budget even before we come to the end of our process,” said school board member Brenda Clough, addressing Perzanoski.

“My belief is it makes sense to collaborate, but the request is just that — it’s a request,” said member Rich Ellis, adding that it’s the school board’s ultimate responsibility to bring the budget request before the council for approval.

Receiving early feedback from the town manager may be preferable to the situation the school district found itself in last year, in which it had to quickly scramble to make reductions at the behest of the town council.

The council determines the school district’s bottom line, but does not dictate where cuts ought to come from, Perzanoski noted.

However, Ellis said he was “stretched to understand” where the board could make cuts, in light of the fact that there are no new full-time equivalent positions requested in the proposed budget.

Word on layoffs

Perzanoski said it wasn’t known whether the district would be forced to lay off personnel.

“Is there a possibility of layoffs? Yes. Do I expect it would be a lot? No,” Perzanoski said.

More than $28 million of the proposed budget consists of salaries and benefits.

School board member Sarah Singer said she would be “very reluctant to put forward a budget to the town council” that would include staff cuts, or would damage the quality of Brunswick school education.

While the district is facing a $106,000 loss in state revenue, there is legislation proposed that could lead to an increase of $26 million- $39 million to Maine schools over two years. The district would use additional funding to offset lost revenue and to fund new positions, said Perzanoski.

The school district will work at the budget over the next couple of weeks before an April 28 meeting in which it hopes to garner public input.

The district must formally submit its budget to the town council by May 1.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com

Layoffs?

SUPERINTENDENT Paul Perzanoski said it wasn’t known whether the district would be forced to lay off personnel.

“Is there a possibility of layoffs? Yes. Do I expect it would be a lot? No,” he said.

The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu