By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

The Cape Elizabeth School Board has broken tradition this year and will consider three proposals for its annual budget instead of the traditional one.

The board in a 5-2 vote last week asked Superintendent Alan Hawkins to produce the different proposals and show how each would impact taxpayers and schools.

The first budget would be based on no increase in taxes; the second would have no cuts in positions, programs or services; and the third would assume a 50-50 split between raising taxes and making cuts.

Board members also asked Hawkins to include a list of school improvements, including adding a gifted and talented program and other ideas citizens suggested during a public forum last December. 

Vice Chairman Katherine Ray and board member Linda Winker voted against the motion to produce three proposed budgets.

Ray said in the past the board would receive one budget and then make additions or deletions.

  “I’m comfortable with the way we’ve done it in the past,” said Ray, a board member for six years. 

At the start of the workshop, Hawkins told the board he and his staff needed guidance to write the budget for fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1. He reminded the board that time was short and urged them to make a decision quickly. 

“I came to this budget hearing tonight to talk to you about where you want me to go,” Hawkins said. “I need to get a sense of what you want so I’ll know what kind of budget to bring in. We are on a very tight timeline.”

Board member Mary Townsend said she feared a repeat of two years ago when it took three citizen referendums to approve the school budget.

“I think we need at least two or three budgets. I don’t want to spend all summer re-voting. The upfront work has to be done so that we don’t continue on into the summer,” she said.

Winker sided with Ray and said the superintendent and his staff have done their due diligence.

“I find it difficult to ask (Hawkins) to sit down and create three or four scenarios to look at. I find it very unrealistic,” Winker said.

“I would find it very useful to have three scenarios,” Millett said. “I don’t think the time frame is unrealistic.”

The board will vote on the budget April 13. The town council will vote on it May 25 and the school budget validation vote by Cape Elizabeth residents is scheduled for June 8.

Rick Wright can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 237 or news@inthesentry.com.