BIDDEFORD — Residents voted 356-175 in favor of a $33.98 million total education budget for fiscal year 2016 ”“ a 1 percent increase from last year ”“ at the polls Thursday, according to City Clerk Carmen Morris.
In May, the City Council voted 7-2 to approve the school budget, which includes the elimination of four teaching positions and two school buses.
Superintendent of Biddeford Schools Jeremy Ray said in an email this morning that he was “extremely pleased” with the outcome of the vote.
“I feel the citizens understood the quality work that the School Committee and City Council did with the budget based on the challenge of state and federal reductions,” he said. “Over the past three years, the school department has worked very hard to be responsible to both the students and the taxpayers when putting together the budget.”
The school budget, when added to the total city government budget of $27.27 million, which the council passed on June 1, translates to a 57 cent, or 3 percent, increase in the mil rate from last year. In other words, a Biddeford resident who owns property valued at $200,000 will pay just over $100 more in taxes during the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1.
The polls were scarcely populated late Thursday morning, and of the approximately half-dozen people who voted in a 20-minute stretch, two presented differing opinions on the school budget.
Charles Lamontagne said he voted in favor of the budget because he supports the small increase Ray proposed. Ray and the Biddeford School Committee originally recommended a $33.73 million total education budget ”“ just a 0.28 percent increase from last year.
“I listened to Jeremy Ray, and I think he’s doing a really good job,” said Lamontagne. “The increase he presented this year was really small. I agree with what he’s doing.”
Mike Morel, on the other hand, said he voted against the budget because he felt it was too high.
“I think we’re spending too many dollars per student compared to other schools, and our programs are no better,” he said.
In a statement released at about 11:30 Thursday morning, Rep. Martin Grohman, D-Biddeford, voiced his support for the budget, saying, “I believe our schools do a great job and the budget is rational and fair.”
— Staff Writer Angelo J. Verzoni can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or averzoni@journaltribune.com.
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