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<br />- Approximately $300,000 in cuts were approved for 82-83. This included reductions
<br />in administration, teachers, special education personnel, secretaries, aides,
<br />textbooks, supplies and half the late activity bus routes. Summer school was
<br />eliminated. Included in these cut. vote $50,000 1. ertra-curricular activities
<br />(sports, band, etc.).
<br />- $200,000 in cuts were made in 1983-84, including seven teachers.
<br />- $10D,000 In cuts were made in the current year, including four teachers,
<br />reductions in =for high supplies and a 502 increase in athletic fees.
<br />- $150,000 in •dditi opal cuts are planned and included in the budget projectl ons
<br />for 1985-87 even if the referendum passes.
<br />What is the school district seeking'
<br />The referendum is for a tax increase of up to 4t1 mills, beginning with taxes payable
<br />in 1985. At current valuations, that amounts to an increase of $496,665.
<br />Whet is the district'• financial history, present status and fund projections?
<br />Primarily because of the shock -waves from the legislature, the General Fund balance
<br />has declined from $1,492,505.63 on 6-30-80 (31.65% of budget) to $323.068.47 on
<br />6-30-84 (5.4I of budget). Without the additional revenue ge-ersted by the first
<br />referendum, we would now be in deficit. The projected revenues, expenditures and
<br />unappropriated balances for the future are shown bel w:
<br />Balances
<br />With Without
<br />Date
<br />Revenue
<br />Expenditures
<br />Referendum Referendum
<br />6-3n-84
<br />Balance
<br />...............................$
<br />323,088 $ 323.088
<br />6-30-85
<br />$6,133.872
<br />$6,754,941••
<br />202,019 202,019
<br />6-3D-86
<br />6,8D7,262•
<br />6,626,300
<br />332,980 (-113,685)
<br />6-30-87
<br />6,993.361•
<br />7.024.6890
<br />352,152 (-666,012)
<br />• Includes
<br />$496.665 new revenue from
<br />current referendum request
<br />•• Includes
<br />$100,000 in budget cuts
<br />0 Includes
<br />$150.000 in budget cuts over 2-year perood
<br />Even with the referendum and the addititmal.$150,000 In cuts during 1985-97, the budget
<br />Is not balanced. However, the referendum v111 leave the district with a 5I balance
<br />(two weeks' operating revenue) on 6-30-87. Not one dolls- of referendum funds is planne
<br />What If the referendum does not pass?
<br />It is the Board's intention to stay po.itiv. on this issue and not place the referendum
<br />to the voters on s negative basis. Orono taxpavers have contlnuously supported a well-
<br />rounded, basic educational program which is the reason the funds are needed.
<br />However, it must be clearly stated that large cuts beyond the $150,D00 planned for
<br />1985-87 would be necessary and would severely damage the educatiocal program. To date,
<br />most of the reductions have been in such areas a building operation, supplies, textbooks,
<br />travel, secretaries, aides, tranaportati on, assemblies, field trips, band, gifted educa-
<br />tion, guidance, adminlatt.tion, athletics, drama And teachers in proportion to declining
<br />enrollment. Athl.tic fees were instituted In 1982-83 and increased this year.
<br />Class it. in the Y7esentary grades was increased in 1983-94. We would now beFin
<br />larger cuts over a 2-3 Year period that would g^ to the heart of the curricular and
<br />
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