GUILFORD — SAD 4 directors approved a spending plan of $5.17 million Tuesday, of which $1.6 million will be raised solely from property taxes.
The $1.6 million represents $1,133,984 in local allocation, $93,296 in local debt service, and $400,000 in local additional funds.
To arrive at that figure, directors voted Tuesday to eliminate two elementary teachers, a kindergarten teacher, a one-third business position, and the coordinator of library-media services. In addition, an elementary music position was reduced from full-time to a little more than half-time, a full-time art position was reduced to half-time, and a full-time middle school guidance position was reduced 20 percent. Reductions were also made in support staff and the maintenance department, as well as a slight reduction in the position of director of special services.
Superintendent Raymond Poulin Jr. said the eliminations and reductions would affect a total of 17 people.
Earlier in the budget process, directors also approved the closing of the Wellington and Abbot elementary schools and made various cuts in the line-item budget.
While the total budget is about $76,000 less than last year, it represents an increase of $70,000 in local additional funds. Residents approved $330,000 last year in local additional funds, compared to a request of $400,000 this year.
Poulin based the anticipated subsidy on Gov. Angus King’s 2 percent increase proposal, which would result in a decrease to the district of $242,011. Should the district receive more in subsidy as a result of the adoption of a new funding formula under consideration by state officials, up to $70,000 would be used to offset the difference between what the district raised in local additional funds last year and what is proposed this year.
State officials are considering a funding formula based on property valuation, as well as median household income and a cost-of-living adjustment.
The proposed budget does reflect about $100,000 in increases for teachers and a 4 percent increase for support staff, according to Poulin. Teachers this year will pay 20 percent co-payment for health insurance coverage, an increase of 10 percent from last year.
Directors earlier approved the use of $8,000 to be divided by Poulin as increases among the four top administrators. Poulin said Tuesday that he used only about $7,000, which was included in the proposed budget. Administrators also pay 20 percent co-payment for health insurance. Neither the teachers nor administrators receive dental coverage.
A decrease of about $29,500 is reflected in the maintenance department’s request of $72,761, while an increase of nearly $15,000 is reflected in the transportation department’s request of $333,648, which includes the purchase of a new bus.
Salaries in the proposed budget include the following: $47,924 for elementary supervisor; $44,284 for middle school principal; $50,343 for high school principal; $30,785 for director of special services; $62,000 for superintendent; $28,172 for transportation director, and $28,387 for maintenance director.
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