PORTLAND — Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved $29.7 million in state and local borrowing to replace the 60-year-old Fred P. Hall Elementary School. Because the project has been included on the Department of Education’s Major Capital Construction Approved Projects List, only $1.4 million will have to be repaid locally. School Board Chairwoman Marnie Morrione said rebuilding […]
Forecaster News
Posted inCoastal Journal, The Forecaster
Flat insurance costs help SAD 75 shave budget proposal
TOPSHAM — Thanks to health insurance expenses for next year coming in at less than anticipated, School Administrative District 75 has shaved about $93,000 from its proposed fiscal 2017 budget. Having budgeted for a possible 3 percent insurance increase, the district learned in the past week that there will be no increase at all, allowing […]
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Posted inSouthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
South Portland pesticide ban gets initial OK
SOUTH PORTLAND — The City Council unanimously approved a first reading Monday of restrictions on the use of synthetic pesticides on public and private property. Councilors also narrowly approved final changes to the Fire Protection and Prevention ordinance, creating a buffer distance of 1,257 feet between public facilities and commercial liquefied petroleum gas operations that opponents believe could be […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland budget requires 2.3% property tax increase
PORTLAND — City property owners can anticipate a tax increase of 47 cents per $1,000 of assessed value based on school and municipal budgets proposed at Monday’s City Council meeting. The overall 2.3 percent increase in property tax revenues would boost the tax rate to $21.10 per $1,000 of assessed value from the current $20.63. City Manager […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Falmouth budget proposal would increase taxes 3.5%
FALMOUTH — The preliminary 2017 fiscal-year budget calls for a 3.5 percent tax increase. The budget was outlined at a March 31 meeting of the Town Council and School Board finance committees. Proposed total expenditures, including Cumberland County’s share of more than $1.5 million, would be nearly $48.5 million, with just less than $35 million […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland School Board to interview superintendent candidates next week
PORTLAND — They come from as far away as California, but several of the candidates interested in becoming the next superintendent of schools are home grown. BWP & Associates, the national search firm hired by the School Board, interviewed 13 candidates for the position, and five came from Maine. Two are from Massachusetts, and BWP […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland School Board member Ali launches City Council bid
PORTLAND — Nomination papers will not be be available until July 1, but Pious Ali’s City Council ambitions got a boost last week from his School Board colleagues. “I am grateful to have worked on many issues with my colleagues on the School Board, and I’m moved by their support today,” Ali said at a City […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Woodfords Corner work in Portland will be costly, disruptive
PORTLAND — Details about reconstruction of Forest Avenue will not be known until closer to the expected start of the project next year, but two things are certain: It will be extensive and expensive. That’s the message city and state officials delivered to an audience of more than 80 people March 31 in a meeting at Woodfords […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Cumberland councilor leads opposition to Route 1 contract zone
CUMBERLAND — A contract zone amendment for a proposed housing development along U.S. Route 1 will go before the Town Council for a second vote Monday, April 11. The council granted developer David Chase a contract zone agreement in January 2015 for the Foreside Village project, a 46-lot subdivision which, at that time, included two […]
Posted inNorthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
North Yarmouth Town Meeting to vote on $2.7M budget
NORTH YARMOUTH — A $2.7 million municipal budget – up 0.6 percent, or about $15,000, from the current year – goes to voters at Town Meeting Saturday, April 9. The gathering takes place at North Yarmouth Memorial School at 9 a.m., and voters can register a half hour earlier. North Yarmouth’s current tax rate of […]