EASTON, Maine — Taxpayers will see an increase in their bills this year, following the approval of the school budget at the June 2 meeting, as well as the total coming in for the county’s portion of the town’s annual budget.
Town Manager Jim Gardner said this will mean about a 2-mil increase across the board.
“In 2010-11’s school funding year, the cost to the town for the local share (of the school budget) was $2,208,545, with the state’s share at that time being $720,854. We have a budget this year that impacts local people by $3,094,442, with state revenue sharing being $63,191 — that’s down from just over $720,000 in three years,” said Gardner.
Gardner said Easton’s lost about $660,000 in state aid while the school budget’s gone up about $225,000 over the past three or four years.
“The county tax, back in 2010-11, was $161,000. County tax this year is $258,000. Again, the county tax is up about $100,000 over the last couple years,” said the town manager.
Gardner said the municipal side of the town’s budget hasn’t seen as drastic a change, despite losing revenue sharing funds from the state.
“The town’s 2010-11 figure was $1,021,014, with state revenue sharing at $137,885. The new budget this year is $1,059,247, with state revenue expected at $40,000. Though we lost about $100,000 in revenue sharing, the town’s budget is only up $38,000. The impact on the municipal side is less than a 10th of a mil,” he said.
Gardner said these figures set the basis for why the town is facing about a 2-mil increase.
“Our mil rate was 14.65 in 2010. We sat down with the school board then to create a three-year plan and how to take care of the loss in state school funding that resulted from the new assessment caused by losing the TIF (for McCain’s) — about an $80 million difference in valuation,” said Gardner.
Over the past three years Gardner said the mil rate has gradually been increased from $14.65 to $16 per $1,000 in valuation for 2013-14, with money coming from surplus to help slow the need to increase taxes.
“We can’t take any more money out of surplus to satisfy the school’s increases any more. We have to be careful to protect our rainy-day fund. This year we’ll take the full impact and take the 2 mil. Of that increase, 1.8 mils is to cover school costs. The town has about .1 mil in there, with the county’s portion at about .2,” said Gardner.
The town manager said the cost of education is on the rise, with the school’s overall budget this year near the $3.5 million mark.
He said he was disappointed with the recent meeting and the lack of interest by citizens and school staff.
“We had the school budget meeting the other night, June 2, when everything was passed. There were a total of 13 people in the room that were regular voters — five of those were town board members, three were members of the school board, the town clerk was there, the moderator, the pastor of the Wesleyan Church, the school janitor and myself. That’s all there were at a $3.5 million budget meeting,” said Gardner. “That’s just very sad.”
Gardner said it’s difficult to understand how people can complain about school budgets and tax increases when they can’t be bothered to attend these meetings and question where their money’s being spent.
“My No. 1 concern is it’s hard to complain about numbers if you aren’t responsible enough to show up at these meetings, which are held around the same time every year,” said Gardner.
Despite the increase, he said Easton’s mil rate will still be one of the lowest in the region.
“As we move forward, it’s a lot to go up to 18 mils. But we’re still on the low end of mil rates out there,” said the town manager.
Gardner said it’s important to stay attentive to the future, something he and his staff will continue to do.
“When you see what’s going on in other communities, like Millinocket where the school is pitted against the town — we have to find a way to get attendance up at these meetings. We also need to work to control budgets. If you don’t pay attention to what’s around you, those numbers will continue to increase,” he said.
He said it’s more than just getting citizens to these meetings, those in the education field should also take more of an interest.
“Not only should we be attentive to the people (citizens) attending these meetings, but if you are a principal or educator, you should be there supporting your system and available to respond to any questions that may arise. What was done June 2 was not right,” said Gardner.
Gardner said it’s important to have officials on hand to answer questions and explain why funding is needed for certain things.
“At town meetings I ensure department heads are there to answer questions. I mandate my department heads and staff make their meetings and make sure they’re there,” said Gardner.
“This is the first time in 15 years as a town manager that I’ve wondered why I was at a meeting when there wasn’t support of their own staff,” said Gardner.
