Gorham property owners would have to dig deeper into their pockets to support proposed town and school budgets that are upward bound in the growing town.

The proposed Gorham School Department budget is $1.4 million more than this year, representing a 4.04 percent increase.  Town Manager David Cole handed his proposed municipal budget to the Town Council Tuesday and it’s up 3.3 percent, or $438,564, from $13,158,141 to $13,594,705. The new budgets are for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

In a cover letter to town councilors, Cole said he’s expecting only $750,000 in state revenue-sharing money that defrays local taxes for Gorham property owners. But, Cole said, by law Gorham should be receiving about $1.76 million in revenue sharing.

“It is obvious that the state finds it easier to take money that belongs to the towns to solve their own financial problems than to make more difficult decisions to balance the state budget,” Cole wrote.

School Superintendent Heather Perry announced in a blog April 3 that the proposed school budget calls for a $36,491,178 spending plan, up from $35.1 million approved for this fiscal year. Gorham schools earlier this year were projected to receive about $170,000 less  in state subsidy to pay for education. But under the latest figures, Perry said Wednesday, Gorham would receive $18,544,749 in state subsidy, up $66,804 from $18,477,945 last year.

The School Committee is expected to vote on its budget at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, in Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St. It marks the first opportunity for residents to weigh in publicly on the school budget. The school budget also requires approval in June from the Town Council and in a  public referendum.

Cole’s proposed budget includes hiring a deputy police chief with a salary of $75,316. The spending plan will scrutinized in a Town Council workshop at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, in the municipal center. The workshop will be televised and public comment could be limited.

For Gorham property owners, the proposed school budget would jump the tax rate an estimated 87 cents per each $1,000 of assessed valuation, based on a projected total town valuation. Cole’s proposal would add 12 cents to the tax rate. The Cumberland County tax charged Gorham is up $46,454, from $997,969 to $1,044,423. The county tax would hike the Gorham tax rate another 2 cents.

The three tax rate increases would add up to $1.01 per $1,000. So, for a Gorham home valued at $200,000, the taxes would jump up $202 under the proposed budgets.

Sharon LaFlamme, Gorham finance director, said Wednesday the tax rate in Gorham is now $16.30.

The rise in the school budget is driven by increases that equal $991,193. Perry attributed those increases to repairs of buildings and to “address our growing student populations.”

Additions this year include a $560,000 increase for capital improvements; $67,500 for an accountant in central office; $42,000 for a part-time elementary library-media specialist; $70,000 for a third-grade teacher at Village School; and $70,000 for a kindergarten teacher at Great Falls School.

But, the School Department could need additional kindergarten teachers, School Committee Chairman Darryl Wright reported Tuesday to the Town Council. Wright said now there are five kindergarten teachers including the additional one budgeted at Great Falls, four at Village School and two at Narragansett School. Wright’s report to the Town Council said an additional kindergarten teacher could be needed at Great Falls and another at Narragansett.

“We are experiencing some unusually high incoming kindergarten numbers at two of our three schools and we suspect it will be all three before too long,”  Wright reported.

In reductions reflected in the school budget, workers compensation costs are down $50,000, attributed to a focus on prevention; gas and diesel costs are $86,250 lower; and out-of-district placement costs are down $105,000. Total reductions equal $487,225.

“Many of our overall reductions were made possible by good management techniques that were able to decrease our workers Comp and unemploment rates sinificantly,” Perry wrote. “Additionally, because we focus on improved health and wellness with our staff, our insurance rates were actually able to hold steady with a zero percent increase.”

The School Department is also advertising for an assitant superintendent.

“This is not a new position for Gorham,” Perry said. “We have had an assistant superintendent of instruction for two years now.  This is only a change in the person holding the position.” 

This position is included in the proposed budget, Perry said. The School Department is seeking a successor for Cathy Stankard,who is leaving.

“I’m resigning (effective June 30) to pursue other opportunities,” Stankard said Tuesday.  “It has been a privilege to work with a talented staff on behalf of Gorham’s children.”

The town is proposing to add two jobs. Hiring a deputy police chief would beef up police presence on the street, Cole’s report indicates. The new position would handle the administrative load of the current lieutenant position, and the lietenant would assume administrative duties handled by the four patrol sergeants, who would be free to provide more police service for the community.

Cole is also proposing adding another mechanic at the Public Works Department, which maintains its fleet in addition to  police cruisers, school buses and vehicles for other town departments.

After this week’s meetings, the Town Council and School Committee will hold a joint workshop on May 17 to discuss the school budget. The Town Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, June 7, to  discuss both budgets and a vote on both. The school budget validation referendum for local voters is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14.

A closer look

Gorhm Superintendent Heather Perry’s blog about the proposed school budget can be reviewed at http://gorhamsuperintendent.blogspot.com. Perry can be reached by emailing [email protected] or calling 222-1000. School Committee members can be contacted through www.gorhamschools.org.