By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

Following two weeks of workshops that attracted input from hundreds of residents, the South Portland Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of a $37.8 million budget and a 1.5 percent increase in the city’s tax rate. 

The South Portland City Council will vote on the budget April 26. The city’s residents will vote May 6 whether to validate it.

The fiscal year 2011 budget calls for a 1.5 percent increase in the tax rate to raise $506,623. This money would be used to seed a secondary school capital reserve fund. The fund would be used to pay debt service on renovations and additions to the middle schools and high school.

South Portland resident Tad Fitzgerald said he didn’t favor a tax increase. “We added 1.5 percent to put in the bank just in case we ever get a building we want to build. That seems fiscally irresponsible,” he said.

For a South Portland resident who owns a home with an assessed value of $200,000, the increase would add $26 to the resident’s annual property tax bill.

The board also voted 6-1 to endorse a $41.9 million plan presented by the Secondary Schools Facilities Committee to renovate the high school. 

Board member Jerald McQueeney voted against the plan.

The high school renovation project was approved but the board made no decision about funding it. 

The plan is a scaled-down version of a $51 million proposal defeated by South Portland voters in 2007.  

The proposed budget cuts 25 positions, the middle school football program, and closes Hamlin School, which will be transferred to the city for use as a planning office. 

Hamlin School currently is being used as practice space for the high school robotics team. The team will be allowed to use the school’s gym for practice after the property is transferred to the city.

The addition of $622,000 in state funding and $1.9 million in Federal Stabilization Funds saved six positions, averted the outsourcing of custodial services, eliminated a pay to participate proposal, and staved off a middle school consolidation plan.

The board decided to use $1.2 million of surplus funds to balance the budget. That leaves a balance in the fund of $2.3 million.

Cost of the high school renovation was reduced this time around by eliminating an artificial field, second gym, four classrooms and cutting the overall size of the plan by 29,000 square feet, according to Kathy Germani, a member of the school facilities committee.

 “The committee believes this is the right plan. It’s a plan that will meet the needs of the students and the community now and in the future,” Germani said.

After a three-hour discussion, board members elected to deal with the funding issue separately from the building plan.

 “I believe we need to say this is the right plan for the high school,” said Board Chairman Rick Carter. “We need to stop talking this to death and move forward.”

McQueeney disagreed.

“I would look at a budget and then build a plan to fit into that budget. I think we need to have the budgeted money set aside before we approve a plan,” he said.

Ward said it was too late to put a funding referendum on the ballot for June and some board members indicated an interest in going with a November referendum.

The board will poll South Portland residents before making a decision about putting the funding question out to voters.

School Superintendent Suzanne Godin said a communication sub-committee was schedule to meet Thursday to start working on a poll.

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