BOE passes a $20.68 million spending plan for fiscal year

PORTLAND — Acknowledging the impact of deep cuts in state aid, the Board of Education has voted to adopt a budget that calls for no increase in education spending in 2018-19.

The board voted unanimously this week to approve a $20.68 million budget for the coming fiscal year.

In a breakdown of $483,655 in reductions he presented to the board Tuesday prior to the vote, Superintendent of Schools Philip B. O’Reilly signaled cuts to both personnel and programs — and possibly tennis at the high school.

“It’s on the chopping block,” he said about the tennis program.

However, he also said some of the numbers were “fluid.” For instance, proposed reductions in staffing could be offset by retirements, O’Reilly suggested.

O’Reilly also said he has asked the building principals to go back and look at other areas where spending could be reduced.

The schools chief originally requested a budget that called for spending $21.16 million — a 2.34 percent increase over the present year’s budget. But even as he was outlining his initial budget proposal to the board earlier this month, O’Reilly warned about the impact of an $800,000 reduction in state aid.

A letter he presented to the board with his initial proposal acknowledged as much. “We recognize the limitations of a strained state budget and as a result, the budget contains no new teaching or staff positions.”

Both O’Reilly and school board Chairwoman Mary Anne Rode called for presenting a zero-increase budget in the early January board meeting. That goal was reinforced when O’Reilly, Rode, First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield and Director of Finance Tom E. Robinson met that same week.

During the discussion that preceded the vote Tuesday, board member Meg Scata said with a declining student enrollment, “I’m all for a zero — or less.” But, she added, “I don’t want to see people with direct contact with children affected.”

Beyond that, “We need to look at a two- to three-year project, because it’s not going away,” she said, referring to the state’s continuing budget woes.

“I don’t like voting for a zero-based budget, but that’s kind of our only option,” her colleague Christopher Darby said.

The town must explore a consolidation of services with adjoining school districts, Darby said. He also urged the board to consider eliminating an administrative position added last year. An administrative salary is roughly equal to two full-time teachers, he said.

Board member Timothy Lavoy “would have been happy voting for the original budget,” but that was not a viable option, he said.

“We have to face reality: This is where we are today,” his colleague Sharon Peters said. “It’s important that we show we’re team players.”

Board member Dave Murphy agreed with that assessment. However, “I want to make sure the Board of Selectmen is well aware of what we’re giving up. This is no walk in the park.”

“We’re in a tough spot,” his colleague Eric Peterson agreed.

Rode offered a tiny spark of hope. “We are getting better. We’re writing more grants, we’re looking at shared services with our local communities. We’re going in the right direction, and we need to continue to look at that,” she said.

However, Rode, O’Reilly and Peterson all agreed on one critical point. The selectmen “could ask for more (cuts),” Peterson said. “But, there’s nothing more to give.”

“Less than zero is not an alternative,” O’Reilly said. “I will never stand up in front of the town and say that it is.”