Jun. 7—Residents of communities all across Maine will get the chance Tuesday to approve or reject their school districts’ proposed budgets.
Most budgeting processes so far have been largely uneventful. But when voters weigh in, which is required by law, things can get complicated, especially in cities or towns with large proposed increases.
Last year, five Maine districts rejected their budgets. Experts weren’t sure whether the increase in spending, which happened as districts were grappling with the loss of COVID-19 pandemic funds, was a trend or a one-off occurrence.
But as voters gear up to decide on budgets, special election races and some bond projects, a few this year could prove controversial. They will also decide whether to extend the budget referendum voting process, something state statute requires districts to reaffirm every three years.
Historic data shows turnout during June municipal elections is generally low, usually between 10% and 20%, compared to November elections when that number is closer to 60%.
Here’s a closer look at what will be on the ballot in some communities in Southern Maine.
CAPE ELIZABETH
Cape Elizabeth has twice rejected large bond proposals to rebuild the district’s aging schools. Voters turned down a $116 million project in November 2022, and a $95 million version of the bond in November 2024. The most recent referendum failed by less than 200 votes.
On Tuesday, voters will get a third chance to vote on a bond, this one an $86.5 million project that includes a new middle school and renovations and additions at the elementary school. The project comes with an estimated tax increase of 12.3%, spread across multiple years.
Proponents of the project, including Superintendent Chris Record, say the school buildings have reached the end of their useful life and are not well-suited to modern-day learning.
“At the middle school, they have very small classrooms that make teaching in a modern way very difficult,” Record said. “It’s very hard to move students into different groups, have interactive centers and do any sort of collaboration because the rooms are so small.”
Opponents want the district to focus on renovations rather than rebuilding. They also take issue with the school board continuing to propose building project referenda after voters have rejected them in the past.
The election occurs as the district and superintendent are undergoing an ethics investigation prompted by a complaint filed by critics of the bond project. They argue district officials should have registered as an official ballot question committee before paying for newspaper advertisements about last November’s bond project.
Cape voters also will weigh in on a proposed $36.3 million budget with a 2.9% property tax increase. They also get to share a nonbinding opinion on whether they find the budget too high, acceptable or too low.
GORHAM
In Gorham, the town’s recent history of rejecting budgets, coupled with local advocacy against this year’s proposal, could signal a close vote. In 2023, Gorham voters rejected two versions of the school budget before approving a third. Last year, the budget passed on the first try, but by only four votes.
This year’s budget, a $57.5 million school spending plan that represents a $4 million increase over last year, was approved by the school committee and town council unanimously. Superintendent Heather Perry said this year’s budget includes the lowest tax rate increase in more than a decade, just 3.15%.
“We believe this budget is fiscally responsible and still provides the high-quality educational program our families have come to expect in Gorham,” Perry said. “The proposed budget is now in the hands of our voters on June 10. We will move forward positively regardless of the outcome. We encourage all Gorham residents to please get out and vote.”
Signs that have popped up around town encourage voters to reject the budget. They include messages like “raise test scores, not taxes” and have QR codes that lead to the website for the organization Gorham Watchdogs, which describes itself as a citizen journalism initiative “dedicated to uncovering the truth about school budgets, town politics and taxpayer accountability.”
That group is circulating a petition that opposes a budget tax hike, and one of its founding members, Ben Tuttle, exceeded the public comment time limit while reading a statement about rising school budgets and the declining student test scores at a May town council meeting. Tuttle collected signatures last year to force a school budget referendum recount, after which the budget passed by two votes.
Other signs around town call on residents to vote yes on the budget, with messages like “adequate funding, quality education.”
OTHER COMMUNITIES
In South Portland, early budget discussions were met with swift community opposition when Superintendent Tim Matheney revealed plans to lay off more than 20 employees to cut $5 million from the budget. The final budget approved by the school board totals $73.1 million, a 5.5% spending increase over last year, and contains cuts to nine full-time equivalent positions.
Matheney announced his resignation Wednesday, citing friction with the school board during the budget process.
South Portland won’t vote on a controversial athletic complex bond Tuesday; the school board decided to put that referendum on a future ballot.
The Gray-New Gloucester budget generated attention last month when a group of residents spoke out against a proposed axing of the high school’s American Sign Language program. Residents of the two towns ultimately approved a $35.4 million budget with a cut to the ASL teacher position, after district officials said the teacher announced plans to retire and they were unable to find a replacement.
Portland, the state’s largest school district, will vote to fill an open school board seat in addition to weighing in on the $172 million budget. The two candidates are Cassidy LaCroix, a contractor and parent of a Portland elementary student, and Jayne Sawtelle, a retired Portland music teacher.
Westbrook voters get to approve a $54 million school budget; last year a second referendum vote was required after voters rejected the first one.
Falmouth will vote on a $52.4 million school budget with a 3.33% increased tax rate, a smaller increase than in recent years.
MSAD 51, the district that includes Cumberland and North Yarmouth, will get to vote on a $54 million school budget and two school board seats.
Yarmouth will elect two school committee members and vote on a $42.4 million budget.
Voters from Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel, the towns in RSU 21, will decide on a $62.6 million budget that represents a 5.5% increase over the current year’s.
And residents of Brunswick will vote on a $57.71 million school budget, which will result in an estimated 1.8% tax rate increase, and on an open school board seat.
For more information about these upcoming votes, visit: pressherald.com
Staff Writer Drew Johnson contributed reporting.
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