With the Portland Board of Education stamp of approval last week, the proposed $125.2 million for the 2021-2022 school year is now ready for City Council review.
The council will hold a public hearing on the school budget May 3 in advance of a final vote on May 10. Voters will head to the polls to vote on the budget June 8.
The school budget, which is up 4.4% or $5.3 million over the current budget, would increase the school tax rate 64 cents to $12.33 per thousand valuation. This would mean an additional $161 in property taxes for the owner of a $250,000 home.
Nearly half of the increase – $2.9 million – comes from new investments in improving equity and addressing other priorities throughout the district. The remainder – $2.4 million – maintains current programs and services and covers increases in salaries/benefits and debt service.
The budget the board approved April 13, is approximately $750,000 less than the budget presented by Superintendent Xavier Botana March 16 due to employee health insurance cost being $661,000 less than expected and state funding the district receives for career and technical education instruction being $90,000 more than anticipated.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
