Voters to get school budget Tuesday

Portland Press Herald, May 12, 2008

(excerpt) Joshua Tingley's message is for Portland residents who plan to vote against the proposed school budget in Tuesday's first-time referendum because they think it's too low.

The referendum, required under the state's new school consolidation law, comes on the heels of a difficult budget year for Maine's largest school district.

Tingley is a Deering High School junior who is an advisory member of the Portland School Committee. The $89.5 million school budget proposal for 2008-09 would eliminate 48 positions – 28 left vacant this year and 20 to be cut in the coming year. The total budget reflects a 4.5 percent increase in spending over the current year.

During Wednesday's televised committee meeting, Tingley urged voters to support the budget and make sure they go to the polls, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"If the budget is turned down, we will be forced to cut more, which won't benefit anybody," Tingley said Friday. "It's already as low as it can go and still educate our children."

At Deering High, Tingley said, the staff cuts mean that several courses won't be offered, including certain Advanced Placement, seminar and elective classes that usually attract fewer students.

The ballot will ask voters to approve or reject the portion of the school budget that will be funded by Portland taxpayers, which is $85.5 million. It reflects planned spending in 11 areas, including regular instruction, special education, administration and transportation.

The ballot total doesn't include parts of the school budget that are funded by grants and individual donations, or programs such as the multilingual center, adult education and athletics, which are ineligible for state education aid.