By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

Cape Elizabeth residents will see a modest property tax increase if they approve a school budget validation referendum June 8.

The town council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $31.4 million town budget for fiscal year 2011 that also includes the school system, county and community services. It is 2 percent larger than this year’s budget of $30.8 million.

The new budget requires a 1.8 percent increase in the tax rate, or 32 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. It would be effective July 1.

For a Cape resident with a home valued at $250,000, next year’s property tax bill would increase $80.

During the one-hour meeting, councilors approved individual budget within the general fund budget with little or no discussion.

However, the school budget did spark some debate and dissension. Five councilors supported it, but Councilors Jessica Sullivan and Anne Swift-Kayatta opposed the school budget.

The school department’s $20.6 million budget is an increase of 3.4 percent over the current budget of  $20 million. Several part-time jobs were cut or reduced, including a high school teacher and a Mandarin language teacher. High school parking fees were raised from $25 to $50 per year.

“This is not the time to be adding a tax increase,” said council chairman Swift-Kayatta.

She said student enrollment has dropped for six consecutive years while the number of teachers has remained flat. She also said the school board has increased its spending 10 years in a row and raised per-pupil spending by 29 percent.

Sara Lennon, chairman of the council’s finance committee, supported the school budget and called it  “responsible and frugal.”

Councilors Penny Jordan and Frank Governali also favored the school budget.

“Education is the cornerstone of our town. It’s the ticket that gets you into the game,” Jordan said. “I hope people recognize that we can’t leave the students behind.”

Governali complimented the town’s education system:  “We’ve got an efficient system that’s working well. We’re delivering something that has a good value at a good price.”

During a public hearing Monday, Cape Elizabeth residents Mary Ann Lynch and Ruth Anne Haley urged councilors to reject the budget and expressed concerns about increased school spending.

Lynch said the schools have seen declining enrollments and lower student-teacher ratios while the town continues to spend more money.

 “The school budget is too high and this is not the right time. Our priorities are not as good as they should be,” Haley said. 

On June 8, Cape voters also will decide if they want to extend the school budget referendum process for three years.

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