SAD 9 weighs budget plans

Kennebec Journal, April 10, 2007

(excerpt) Copies of the SAD 9 budget draft, which will include the anticipation of additional state aid, will be distributed at the school board's 7 p.m. meeting at Mt. Blue High School.

The district is in line tentatively to receive an additional $800,000, or a total of $14,638,639, in state subsidy for 2007-08 under Gov. Baldacci's recommended funding, or a little over $700,000, for a total of $14,537,239, under a second plan based on revisions to the state funding formula.

Superintendent Michael Cormier said the revenue projections are "shaky at best," but added the administration and board needed to begin the public budget process.

Traditionally, directors have spent several meetings evaluating the spending plan before adopting their own recommended budget. The process has been slowed this year because of the delay in funding figures from the state.

Previously, SAD 9 has timed its deliberations to piggyback its budget referendum with statewide primary voting in June. This year's balloting, on June 12, will include bond packages.

"I don't know if the board can do it (get it ready for voting) in that amount of time," Cormier said.