During a special Sept. 3 workshop, Edgecomb’s school committee and selectmen moved closer together on education spending, but remained far apart on what each believes is best for local taxpayers. During an hour-plus session, the school committee discussed using more of the $565,000 in surplus funds to reduce the local tax commitment.

The workshop was scheduled to discuss if a special town meeting was needed due to Edgecomb voters rejecting four of 19 education spending articles on the Aug. 29 town meeting referendum warrant. Defeated articles include the $3,312,286 total budget, authorization to exceed the Maine’s Essential Programs Service model by $875,000 and two non-lapsing emergency funds which would place $250,000 in a capital improvement fund to repair the school roof and $50,000 to cover COVID-19 related costs. 

But school roof funding will likely not be included in a special town meeting warrant. Instead, the committee may seek up to $185,000 for a recently identified mold problem in the school. Committee chairman Tom Abello proposed putting the roof off for another year, and divvying up up the surplus to better reflect taxpayers’ concerns presented by the selectmen.

Abello proposed a  6 p.m. Sept. 8 special board meeting to seek a special town meeting. His revised school warrant proposal doubles the amount of surplus used to offset the local taxpayer commitment from $100,000 to $200,000. The proposal also includes spending up to $40,000 for ceiling tile repairs. School officials aren’t sure if Edgecomb Eddy School’s faulty ceiling tiles caused the mold problem or if the unusually humid June and July weather did. Principal Ira Michaud reported the cause would likely be determined during an insurance company inspection the week of Sept. 6.

The new budget proposal would leave approximately $140,000 remaining in an undesignated fund for FY 21, according to Abello. In the Aug. 29 town warrant, school officials proposed a 1.4% overall budget increase with zero increase to local taxpayers. Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Dr. Keith Laser reported the additional $100,000 earmarked to offset taxpayer contributions would reduce their local contribution by 4%. 

“This brings the undesignated fund down to $140,000 which concerns me about future budgets,” Abello said. “We don’t know what is going to happen with the virus. We’re supposed to receive $441,000 in state subsidy, but we really can’t depend upon this based on the current situation. Also, our subsidy will be lower next year because the school will be paid off.”

Selectmen countered that the grim COVID-19 circumstances had backed local taxpayers into an equally vulnerable position. Selectman Mike Smith explained the board’s opposition to the budget centered around proposing essentially the same budget from last year using surplus funds. “I appreciate your long term planning, but this year isn’t really the right year for it,” Smith said. “People are experiencing a loss of income and jobs, and to propose the same budget when you’re likely to end up with another large surplus because nobody knows if school will last the entire year, isn’t acceptable.”

Michaud is in his third year directing the pre-kindergarten to grade six school. He defended the defeated budget as “keeping the taxpayers in mind.” He discussed an expanding enrollment due to a new pre-kindergarten program. In 2017, the committee entered into a five-year tuition agreement with Alna and Westport Island to participate in the program.  He reported enrollment increased by nearly 30% during his tenure without a significant staff increase. “We’ve added one new teacher for 35 more students. We’ve been creative and thrifty with our staff so I don’t really know what else we could’ve done,” he said. 

Selectman Ted Hugger believed the Aug. 29 vote should have sent a message to the school committee. He believed the taxpayers conveyed they couldn’t afford the school budget which encompasses nearly 70% of tax bills. “Townspeople have told us they can’t afford the taxes. I’ve heard this for all five years I’ve been a selectman. We’re asking you to take a step back, and look at fiscally sound ways to operate, without driving taxes through the roof,” he said.

School and municipal officials had previously discussed logistics for a special town meeting. Unlike the Aug. 29 meeting, it would be a public meeting, not referendum-style. The special meeting would be limited to fewer than 50 voters inside to abide by state health regulations stemming from Gov. Janet Mills’ ongoing emergency order. Remaining voters would be outside to either ask questions or to vote.