Most of the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District budget meetings are attended by school administrators, teachers, and other municipal employees. This year was no exception. A total of 47 people approved a 2014-2015 budget of $9,311,932.76 on May 19 — but not all of the voters voted on all 16 articles.

An additional six people approved the two articles on the AOS 98 budget warrant containing monetary amounts. These individuals represented the other three towns in the AOS, Edgecomb, Southport and Georgetown. This budget, $153,628 for special education and $458,614, was passed without dissent or discussion.

The same cannot be said of the CSD budget voting. Most discussion was prompted by Boothbay residents Ron and Chris Bastian (quite possibly the only voters in attendance who were not affiliated with the school), Boothbay Town Manager Jim Chaousis and Boothbay Selectman Douglas Burnham.

Ron Bastian questioned article 13, the line encompassing the state's essential programs and services model.

“In order to get the $500,000-plus dollars in state subsidy, we are required to raise a minimum of $5,566,168, anything above and beyond that is said to exceed EPS and must be raised through additional local funds,” King said.

Both Chaousis and Burnham questioned the $50,000 price tag for pre-K, a class not included in the CSD's charter. Next fall will mark the third year of the program.

Superintendent of Schools Eileen King said she didn't think about the charter at the time; rather, she was thinking about the children and the children's needs. She added that the school committee would be addressing changing the charter over the summer months.

Burnham made a motion, seconded by Chaousis, to decrease the total budget by $50,000. The motion was defeated with only Burnham and Chaousis voting in favor.

When article 9, the facilities maintenance line for $1,248,379, was on the floor, Boothbay Harbor resident Frank Fassett asked what this was used for.

“It sounds like a lot for paint and rugs,” Fassett said.

King explained the line included custodial salaries and benefits, health insurance, fuel, electricity, snow removal, heating system maintenance, etc.

Fassett said knowing that, he “felt better,” but added it was “still a lot of money.”

Article 10, the line for debt service and other commitments, totaled $276,838. Chaousis asked how much of the amount was for the tennis courts. King said $27,769.

Chaousis asked if when the school committee was updating the CSD's charter, it would be creating a requirement for a capital improvement plan. He was told the committee would take it under consideration.

The assessment to the towns prompted Chaousis to ask about the state's current tuition rates.

King replied that the state rates, used by the CSD, were $9,200 per student in the high school and $9,800 per student in the elementary school.

Chaousis noted the total number of students in Boothbay was five students lower than in the current year. King said the amount of students had to be estimated as it was not possible to know exactly how many students would actually be coming in, and wouldn't know the rates for the next school year until December.

With the assessment to the towns based on the number of students in the towns, Chaousis said a five student difference, if all five came from Boothbay, they would represent one percent of the tax assessment, or $90,000.

“And that's a big deal,” Chaousis said. “You (the school committee) have a very hard job putting this together, but I need to reiterate my concern that the school budget is outpacing the value of the town (Boothbay) 10-1, and that needs to be considered in future years.”

The meeting that began at 6 p.m., adjourned at 7:53 p.m.

Moderator Irving Snyder, who had served 13 years on a school committee in another town said in closing, “You guys have a hard job, and I wish you well.”