By Nate Jones
Staff Writer
Cape Elizabeth schools may receive additional funding for their school budget, based on results from Tuesday’s referendum.
As of Wednesday morning, voting results show almost 1,900 voters rejected a 4.6 percent budget increase from last year – with more than 1,600 residents said they found the proposed $19.7 million school budget to be too low.
Town Councilor Sara Lennon, who has supported a school board-approved 6 percent increase throughout the process, said she was not surprised a majority of residents disapproved of the proposed budget.
“Yesterday a super majority of voters sent a public rebuke to the town council with a very clear message: ‘We want first-rate schools. Please put the school board’s requested 6 percent budget out to vote!’” Lennon said.
Councilor Mary Ann Lynch said she was not surprised either.
“I’m happy to have received such a definitive message from the voters.” She said.
Maine Department of Education Director of Finance and Operations Jim Rier said now the school board must take the budget back to workshops and can present a revised budget to the town council no sooner than June 20. After the council approves the revised budget, it must be sent to another public referendum within 10 days, making the earliest date for final approval by voters June 30, “granted they’ve worked out all the kinks,” he said.
Should the public not approve a budget by July 1, the last budget to be approved by the school board will go into effect. If a referendum has still not been successful by July 18, the last budget to be approved by the town council will go into effect until voters approve a final draft of the budget.