As the state wrestles with how to address a $190 million shortfall in funding, the effect on local education budgets is leaving educators worried. Superintendents, though, are cautioned by Education Commissioner Susan Gendron that the state subsidy figures released this week are preliminary and should be used only as 'initial' guidance for budget preparations.
The governor's proposed change package delays the implementation of the 55% state funding for K-12 education for another year, with a $34.1 million reduction in General Purpose Aid for Local Schools from his original budget proposal. Under current proposals made by the legislature's Education Committee and the governor, schools that would be particularly hard hit by cuts in state funding are Eastport, Lubec and Jonesport. With the loss of transition funding that had been given to school districts suffering significant losses under the new Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding model, Eastport could face a $350,000 or 34% drop in state funding, Lubec's funding could be cut by $310,000 or 43% and Jonesport's by $267,000.
"You can't nickel and dime a budget" with that amount cut, says Union 104 Superintendent Terry Lux, noting that cuts would have to be made in staffing, if changes are not made in the preliminary figures. "It will be hard. We're going to do the best we can to absorb it," she says.
SAD 19 Superintendent Michael Buckley says the proposed 43% decrease in state funding "would devastate" the Lubec district, requiring massive cuts to run the small school. He notes that the school administrative district does have $315,000 in surplus funds, which may be "the only salvation for this school." Buckley says he froze the budget last week, commenting, "We'll only do what we need to do to get through the year." The SAD will try to carry over as much in funding as it can to next year to try to make up for any funding cuts. He will also be working to see if transition funding can be restored.
"The real culprit, the EPS formula, is inherently unfair to small, rural and coastal schools," Buckley says. Lux agrees, noting that the greatest impact of the inequity in the EPS funding formula is on high-valuation, low-income districts that are in the coastal and lake regions. Districts with declining school enrollments are also affected. In Lubec, the property valuation increased from $118 million to $147 million, so the district's local contribution for education had to increase $100,000, says Buckley.
State Senator Kevin Raye of Perry agrees that those districts suffering the greatest losses "are rural, coastal and lake communities. Put together, that defines Washington County." Raye has heard that Governor Baldacci may propose adding $23 million in transition funding, which Raye says "would take a lot of the sting out of it." Lux also heard that some special education funds may be restored.
According to Buckley, seven of the 10 school districts receiving the greatest amount of transition funding last year are in Washington County. Eastport received the third highest amount, $211,000, and Lubec received the fifth highest, $114,000. He says that under state law transition funding is to be available until 2009-10 fiscal year.
Under the preliminary figures for both the education committee and the governor's proposals, area schools would see the following gains or losses from the 2007-08 year to the 2008-09 year: Baileyville -- committee, loss of $76,794 or 27%; governor, loss of $36,360 or 13%; Calais -- committee, loss of $132,357 or 3%; governor, loss of $115,815 or 3%; Charlotte -- committee, loss of $61,646 or 14%; governor, loss of $61,993 or 14%; Cutler -- loss of $4,797 or 2%; governor, loss of $10,079 or 3%; Dennysville -- committee, gain of $64,544 or 17%; governor, gain of $58,232 or 15%; East Machias -- committee, gain of $43,157 or 4%; governor, loss of $807 or 0%; Eastport --committee, loss of $357,989 or 33%; governor, loss of $344,741 or 32%; Jonesboro -- committee, gain of $39,420 or 12%; governor, gain of $28,729 or 8%; Jonesport -- committee, loss of $267,020 or 92%; governor, loss of $267,020 or 92%; Machias -- committee, gain of $90,044 or 7%; governor, gain of $103,202 or 8%; Machiasport -- committee, loss of $168,735 or 28%; governor, loss of $184,160 or 31%; Meddybemps -- committee, gain of $30,998 or 224%; governor, gain of $33,140 or 239%; Pembroke -- committee, loss of $76,462 or 9%; governor, loss of $91,380 or 10%; Perry -- committee, gain of $28,428 or 4%; governor, gain of $31,928 or 5%; Robbinston -- committee, loss of $14,569 or 3%; governor, loss of $10,045 or 2%; Whiting -- committee, gain of $32,769 or 20%; governor, gain of $19,957 or 12%; SAD #19, Lubec -- committee, loss of $310,968 or 43%; governor, loss of $293,322 or 40%; Pleasant Point -- committee, gain of $226,155 or 17%; governor, gain of $220,060 or 17% |
