Maine School Adminstrative District 75


MSAD 75 Budget 2010-2011 Process

M.S.A.D. No. 75 Finance Committee
December 17, 2009

Members Present:  Roland Tufts – Chair, Rebekah Stimpson, Joanne Rogers, Dee Carrier
Staff Present:  Mike Wilhelm, Sally Loughlin, Steve Dyer

Roland Tufts opened the meeting at 6:00 PM

Mike Wilhelm led a general discussion about issues that the District will be facing in developing a budget for FY’11.  Valuations for the 4 towns are up about 2.4%.  Student enrollment is 2,740, down about 100 from last year.  This will result in an estimated loss of subsidy of $ 400,000 or more.  The State has imposed another curtailment this year of about $413,000.  The State is expected to cut spending an additional $36,000,000 in FY’11.  This will mean roughly $ 400,000 will be cut from the District subsidy for FY’11.  All told the District expects to lose $1,200,000 or more in State subsidy for FY’11.

The Finance Committee also reviewed other issues that may affect the budget.  The ability to appropriate more fund balance toward next year’s budget was discussed with no conclusion to the availability of additional fund balance for FY’11.  There may be savings of approximately $219,000 by closing the West Harpswell School.  It was recognized that money to offset this year’s curtailment would not be put back in to the FY’11 budget.  The District Board of Directors is considering a retirement incentive for teachers and administrators.  Anthem is signaling a 10% increase in health insurance premiums. 

Mike Wilhelm then passed out a list of initiatives and programming that the District has on its plate for this year and beyond.  He thought that the Finance Committee should
consider this list to help them set priorities for developing the budget. 

The Finance Committee agreed that:

  • They needed to recommend a budget that the taxpayers will accept
  • They should set priorities and look at things that may not be critical and consider them for reduction first before considering the more critical items
  • They should consider enrollments and class sizes and analyze where spending reductions may be available
  • Staff should look for opportunities that decrease the need for resources
  • They agreed not to make short term budget reduction decisions that would cost more in out years
  • They may consider a bond for a project that has a near term payback

The Finance Committee discussed holding a Public Forum before completion of the first draft of the budget but made no decision to hold a Public Forum.  They agreed to seek input whenever possible and to solicit viewpoints from the pubic about what the District does well and what the District does not do well. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Steven A. Dyer
Business Manager








 

Dates:

Agenda:................................

17-Dec (Thurs)
6:00-7:00p.m.

Budget Process Planning
District Office, Topsham

14-Jan (Thurs)
6:30 p.m.

Budget Process Overview

Part of Regular Board Meeting at Mt. Ararat Middle School

..26-Jan (Tues)

Capital Maintenance Plan Review

6:00-8:30 p.m.

District Office, Topsham

28-Jan (Thurs)

Superintendent’s Presentation

6:30 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

.2-Feb (Tues)

Maintenance of Effort Budget Overview & Proposed Budget Adjustments

6:00-8:30 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

9-Feb (Tues)

Proposed Budget Adjustment Discussions

6:00-8:30 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

23-Feb (Tues)

Proposed Budget Adjustment Discussions

.6:00-8:30 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

2-Mar (Tues)

Review Complete First Budget Draft

6:00-9:00 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

9-Mar (Tues)

Continue Budget Review

.6:00-8:30 p.m.

District Office, Topsham

16-Mar (Tues)

Meet with Town Select Persons

.6:30 p.m.

lMt. Ararat High School rm 201

.23-Mar(Thurs)

Prepare smooth budget for public forums

.6:00-8:30 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

30-Mar(Tues) .

Public Budget Forum-Harpswell

6:30 p.m.

Harpswell Islands School

1-Apr (Thur)

Public Budget Forum-Bowdoin/Bowdoinham

.6:30 p.m.

Bowdoin Central School

6-Apr (Tues)

Public Budget Forum-Topsham

6:30 p.m.

Williams-Cone School

.13-Apr (Tues)

Finish Smooth Budget Draft

.6:00-8:30 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

.29-Apr (Thurs)

Formal Budget Approval

6:30p.m.

Maine Vocational Region 10

13-May (Thurs)

Budget Public Hearing

6:00 p.m.

Mt. Ararat High School rm 201

27-May (Thurs)

District Budget Meeting

6:30 p.m.

Orion Performing Arts Center

.8-Jun (Tues)

Budget Validation Referendum

 

 


 

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