SACO — Residents will get a chance to voice their opinion of the nearly $33 million proposed school budget on Monday.
The proposed budget will not result in a mil rate increase on the school side, said Interim Superintendent of Schools Mike Pulsifer.
The school board had originally voted on a budget proposal in March that would have increased the mil rate, but had a revote on the budget earlier this week. Since the first proposal, the school’s revenue stream has increased, as it learned that it received just more than $197,000 in additional state subsidy, said Pulsifer.
Saco School Board Chairman Kevin Lafortune said the school benefited from work done by the administrative staff to review data, resulting in the additional state funds.
Also, he said, insurance rates came in better than anticipated.
Lafortune said the school board put a lot of thought and time into the proposal, and he thought it was a responsible budget. Lafortune said the budget is not just about the bottom line, but addressing the needs of students.
“I’m feeling very optimistic,” he said.
The council is holding a public hearing on the school budget proposal at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday at 7 p.m. at city hall.
The council will vote the next Monday on a school budget proposal. The council approved budget will go to voters for final approval at a June 10 city-wide referendum.
For more information on the Saco school budget, go to www.sacomaine.org and click on “Schools” under the “Departments” tab.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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