Nobleboro Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Budget Committee agreed on a tight 2009-10 budget at the end of a special meeting in the Nobleboro town office Monday night.
The three groups met with School Union 74 Supt. Bob Bouchard and business manager Adam Hanson on Feb. 2 to review and vote on a budget that has an overall decrease of 3.6 percent, ($105,610) combined with an increased local share.
This proposed budget, which the groups approved and will then be put forth to voters at the annual town meeting in March, reflects an overall local increase of 1.7 percent or $41,702.
Reasons for the overall local increase include health insurance rates, additional health insurance plans, increase to average tuition, purchased professional services, First Student bus contract increase, and special services transportation.
Also a contributing factor in such a tight budget is an anticipated reduction in state subsidy. The superintendent said this year the current budget was cut short by $70,000. The same reduction in state subsidy is anticipated for next year.
Bouchard is budgeting for an 8 percent increase in health insurance costs, though the exact rate won’t be known until May. Staff changes also resulted in an expected increase in health insurance costs. Newly hired personnel accepted an offered health insurance plan, where previous employees had not.
Despite a decrease in student population from the current year, 90 students down from 104.5 (due to split custody), they anticipate a 6 percent increase in secondary education tuition. The decrease in student population is likely a contributing factor in decreased state subsidy, according to Bouchard.
More students are expected to attend Camp Kieve in Nobleboro next year, which has raised the purchased professional services line item from $1300 to $2688.
An annual 3 percent increase in the First Student bus and special services transportation contract raised the line item from $161,212 to $171,647 (includes $17,840 special needs transportation). The cost for secondary vocational transportation, however, dropped from $28,875 to $17,500.
Reductions in this proposed budget include cuts equal to one full time teaching position, guidance services, heating fuel, the secondary education population decrease, special education, and sports.
Two half teaching positions in the areas of regular instruction and special education would reduce instructional teacher salaries from $567,274 to $533,806 and special services teacher salaries from $72,790 to $54,400.
Nobleboro Central School principal Mark Deblois has taken on counseling services, which is budgeted to reduce this line item. The cost for contracted guidance counselor in this budget is a decrease of $20,000 from $30,000. Bouchard said Deblois is a certified counselor and, having experience in this field, was able to reduce the cost.
The budget also reflects a locked in price of $2.01 per gallon of heating fuel for next year. This year’s budget was set to pay $3 per gallon and fuel is currently costing $3.50.
Decreases in coaches’ stipends, benefits, game officials’ pay, sports supplies, dues and field trips contributes to a $2834 or 21.8 percent reduction in the proposed budget.
Bouchard said pay for coaching and game officials have been reduced in this budget, because no baseball and softball teams are expected next year.
Committee members approved the proposed budget after the review conducted by Bouchard and some discussion regarding various line items. They hope to save on electricity and any other items in the budget pending any changes. Bouchard and committee members agreed this proposed budget is fairly trim, which they worked to develop with quality education in mind.
This budget will be voted on at the annual town meeting on March 21, followed by a referendum vote one week later.
