NORTH YARMOUTH — The draft fiscal 2011 municipal budget, which faces a long review process before being approved in June, is 2.6 percent smaller than the existing budget. The total budget proposed by Administrative Assistant Marnie Diffin is $2.25 million, compared with $2.31 million for fiscal 2010. Projected revenue is $1.25 million, a decline from $1.36 […]

BRUNSWICK — The School Board chairman and members of the town’s legislative delegation are feuding over a proposed $3 million slash in state education aid. During the board’s Feb. 10 meeting, Chairman Byron Watson questioned efforts by local lawmakers to prevent what has repeatedly been described by school officials as a disproportionate loss in funding. […]

BRUNSWICK — Fewer than a dozen residents voiced concerns about a projected $5 million budget gap during a Feb. 11 forum hosted by the Town Council. The town meeting-style event was designed to gather input on how the council and School Board should address a shortfall that officials predict will lead to layoffs, larger classes […]

BRUNSWICK — A proposed 10-year agreement with the town will rebate an average of 85 percent of property taxes to the developer of an inn planned at Maine Street Station and not tax the project at all during its first five years. An outline of the credit enhancement financing was presented to the Town Council […]

PORTLAND — The man police say gunned down a friend Feb. 10 made his initial court appearance Tuesday. Daudoit Butsitsi, 24, is charged with killing Serge Mulongo, also 24. Police believe Butsitsi shot Mulongo at around 11:15 p.m. Feb. 10 on the porch of an apartment building on Park Avenue. On Tuesday, Butsitsi appeared in […]

PORTLAND — A task force will spend the next four months considering options to address noise downtown and in the Old Port, including installation of a glass canopy over Wharf Street. The Public Safety Committee last fall held several meetings to discuss complaints from residents and businesses about loud music playing late into the night […]

PORTLAND — Goodwill Industries of Northern New England is looking for 75 volunteers over the next two years to mentor at-risk youth in greater Portland. Mentors are being sought as part of a new program, Goodwill GoodGuides, that will pair mentors with young people between the ages of 12-17 who have legal troubles or are […]

PORTLAND — An affordable housing developer is planning to build a 37-unit apartment building in the Arts District, and is targeting artists for tenants. Grey Payne, development officer for Avesta Housing, said the agency could begin the city approval process as soon as next month. The proposal needs Historic Preservation and Planning Board approval. The […]

PORTLAND — Ken Kunin will resign as principal of Deering High School at the end of the school year, he said, to seek a new challenge. Kunin said his resignation has nothing to do with the bleak financial forecast for city schools, which face a mid-year cut of $2.6 million in state aid in the […]

SOUTH PORTLAND — Maine has too many school districts, too many administrators, too few students per teacher and too many students identified for special education. Those were just some of the problems behind the current funding crisis for public education identified by attorney and education policy expert David T. Flanagan at the Portland Regional Chamber’s […]