By DINA MENDROS

Staff Writer

BIDDEFORD — On Monday at the Biddeford High School Little Theater, several dozen people showed up for the public hearing on the Biddeford budget.

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2015, to begin July 1, totals $61.8 million. That’s an increase of $1.4 million, or nearly 2.4 percent, over the current year’s budget.

The estimated mil rate would be $17.88 per $1,000 of assessed property value, an increase of 35 cents over the current rate.

Several members of the public spoke on the budget, some saying it was too high, and others protesting proposed cuts.

The public hearing was an opportunity for residents to speak about the budget, but there was no response from city council or school committee members to the public comments.

Resident Ron Peaker said he thought the proposed $33.6 million school budget was too high.

“This school budget needs to be reduced,” he said, adding that it should be “radically changed.”

Since 2003, said Peaker, there has been a reduction of about 500 students attending Biddeford schools to approximately 2,500. However, he said, the amount of administration staff has increased during that time.

In addition, said Peaker, the administration staff has recently taken on additional responsibilities for other school systems ”“ Biddeford Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray will also be superintendent for Dayton schools. He said the Biddeford School Department should get rid of the assistant superintendent of schools position.

School committee member Dennis Anglea said two years ago, he thought the school budget should be cut. But now, after learning more about the schools through his membership on the school committee, Anglea said, “I was wrong.”

Other members of the public spoke against a proposal in the budget to eliminate a deputy fire chief position. That position, which was put in place about three years ago, is in charge of emergency management services training and operations, safety, and health and wellness divisions. The current deputy chief is Scott Gagne.

Dr. Michael Schmitz, who is the medical director for the fire department and works in the emergency room at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, said it was “insightful” and “progressive” when this position was created, and that it’s “alarming” that it may be cut.

In Biddeford and throughout the nation, he said, there is a shift in the services of fire departments from fire suppression to answering calls for people in need of acute medical care.

“There are men and women in your city who are alive today” after suffering heart attacks and other health issues “thanks to the brave men and women” in the fire department, said Schmitz.

A full-time EMS deputy chief is necessary, said Schmitz, for training personnel and maintaining equipment.

Also, he said, it is less expensive to fund the deputy chief position than to eliminate it, because staff will have to go outside of the department for required training.

“It is essential to the health of your citizens,” said Schmitz, that “the role of the deputy chief of EMS continues to be funded.”

On May 15, the city council will hold an initial vote on the school portion of the budget and on May 19 it will hold an initial vote on the city government and county portion of the budget. On both these dates the public will have opportunities to speak.

On May 28, the city council will take a final vote on the total budget. Barring a veto by Mayor Alan Casavant, this will finalize the city government and county portion of the 2015 budget.

A public referendum is required to approve the school budget. That will take place June 10.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.