The Gorham Town Council will hear public comment on proposed municipal and school budgets at its regular meeting next month.
The two budgets combined total $48.3 million, representing an increase of $1.7 million.
A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St. A Town Council vote on the budgets will likely follow the hearing.
In a joint workshop on Tuesday about the school budget, Dennis Libby, chairman of the School Committee, told town councilors that the proposed school budget is $35,174,530, which is up about $1 million from this year’s $34,152,140 million. Libby said it represents a 2.99 percent increase.
Gorham school officials are projecting the district would receive $15.8 million from the state in general purpose aid. But Superintendent Ted Sharp said a final state figure might not be available until June 27.
Under projected calculations, the school budget would raise the town’s tax rate 75 cents per $1,000 of valuation. If the Town Council approves the school budget, it would go to local voters in a validation referendum on Tuesday, June 9.
Town Manager David Cole’s proposed municipal budget, which includes the $1 million Cumberland County tax, is $14.1 million, up $733,923. It would raise the tax rate 35 cents per $1,000 of valuation.
If both school and municipal budgets receive approval as proposed, taxes on a Gorham home valued at $200,000 would increase by $220.
Sharp told the Town Council that U.S. News & World Report has identified Gorham as one of the top high schools in Maine. According to the news company’s website, Gorham High School is ranked 12th in Maine, trailing Scarborough High School as 11th.
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