BRUNSWICK

The Brunswick Town Council voted Thursday to send a revised $37 million school budget to the polls on June 13.

The school board’s budget, as originally proposed, was around $38 million, but was pared down through a series of meetings with the council that was keen on keeping the overall tax increase to Brunswick residents to 3 percent.

Resident and former school board member Rich Ellis said during a hearing that he was appalled by an increase of $1 million — or 4.7 percent — to the town’s municipal budget plan, while the school budget was forced to be cut.

Ellis said he would vote in favor of a measure to build a $28 million new elementary school, but against the school budget because it was too low.

Councilor Sarah Brayman said this budget is an example of balancing different needs.

“Resources are scarce, but we’re all doing the best we can,” Brayman said.

Areas left unfunded for the coming year include a curriculum coordinator position, a special education secretary, a response to intervention teacher at the junior high school, freshman sports, professional development, and a school resource officer position.

Should money come back from the state, $400,000 will be earmarked for restoration of the cuts. In addition, about $200,000 would be used to offset the tax impact.

The hope is additional money will be coming back to the district from the state when the 128th legislative session convenes, and some of those positions will be restored.

There is no certainty as to how much money, if any, will be available to Brunswick, but it is projected to be $600,000.

However, if Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed state budget passes as is, $1 million will be stripped from the school.

Superintendent Paul Perzanoski said the district is already looking at an $800,000 shortfall in next year’s budget.

Town Manager John Eldridge said if the school’s spending plan is defeated at the polls, it will go back to the drawing board until it is approved by voters.

The municipal budget, which was approved Thursday, is $23.5 million, about $1.1 million more than last year’s approved budget. The amount to be raised by taxes is $15.9 million, after calculating the $7.5 million in revenue generated from the general fund balance, excise taxes and other sources which offset the tax impact. The tax rate impact to residents is about 1.7 percent.

The town will take $100,000 from its surplus balance, $124,000 from various cuts, and an increase in revenue of about $76,000 will comprise the reduction of the municipal budget.

At a 3 percent increase to the municipal, school and county budget, the average tax bill will be $3,300, and of that, an increase of $101 will be the result of this year’s proposed budgets.

jlaaka@timesrecord.com

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