The Edgecomb School Committee planned on a long session Feb. 25 to pare down its fiscal 27 budget proposal for presentation to selectmen. The committee spent three hours, 20 minutes reviewing the budget, but did not to reach a final verdict. Instead, the committee tabled deliberations until Monday, March 2,  at 9 a.m. in a special Zoom-only meeting.  

The committee began with a $4,765,928 draft reflecting a 14.6% spending increase. The impact on taxpayers would be substantial. The total assessment is $3,804,777, which is a 19.5% increase or $621,354. Complicating matters is the fiscal 24 audit isn't done, so the committee doesn't know how much surplus is available for reducing the assessment.

Members pared down the tax assessment to a 14.6 % increase, which was more than the 13% target of Chairman Heather Sinclair, who commented, "I don't love this budget." The committee adjourned the meeting with several unanswered questions.

The proposal uses no undesignated (surplus) funds due to the uncertainty of the fiscal 24 audit. School officials estimate a 20% increase in health insurance costs, and expect to have a better understanding of those by mid-March, which might reduce the request.

During public comment, Edgecomb resident Charlie Willauer voiced concerns of a 14% property tax assessment increase coming on the heels of a 32% increase two years ago. He attended Wednesday's marathon meeting on Zoom. He described himself as "one who comes from an education background and understands the committee's challenges." He hoped to see some relief for taxpayers in the committee's final proposal. "Fourteen percent is a lot of money. There has got to be some additional money in the preceding years' budget in surplus," he said. "If not, you got to make some cuts somewhere in the budget."

During the meeting, committee members may have found a solution to their longstanding parking lot problem. The committee is reviewing a plan to shift the project to the public works department since the school is owned by the town. The committee proposed adding a kitchen worker's position. The proposal has a $35,000 budget for a server and someone to do paperwork. Members believed the position's addition will deliver a better product and free up school staff from serving breakfasts, snacks and lunches.

The committee also has two school buses in need of expensive repairs. The buses were purchased in 2019 and 2020. The committee reported a bus's life expectancy is 10 years. The committee doesn't want to spend tens of thousands of dollars in repairs or buy a new bus. Instead, the committee voted to lease a bus at an expected $35,000 per year cost with maintenance included and make do with one of their two buses.

The committee was unsure whether to include a new Individual Education Program coordinator position. This would be a shared cost with the Community School District in Boothbay Harbor. Edgecomb's share is 30%. Committee member John Allen III said "This sounds like an AOS program. Why isn't it?" School officials said the AOS considered the position, but dropped it after proposing an assistant superintendent position. Committee member Irene Marchenay wanted to know how the position would impact special education teachers' stipends. "In the contract they receive a $2,000 stipend for paperwork. What happens to that?" Superintendent Bob Kahler responded that would be a matter of negotiations with the union.

In an effort to reduce the budget, committee members reduced their paid student tuition expenses. The committee usually budgets two extra elementary and two extra high school tuitons. Instead, they will propose only one extra for the two schools. The change is expected to save $34,000, according to school officials. 

The committee reduced a library budget line from $3,000 to $500. The library needs shelves, so committee members proposed seeking residents' support in the project. For years, Edgecomb sixth graders attended a Chewonki Foundation fall team-building exercise. Chewonki previously provided scholarships.The scholarship is no longer available, so Edgecomb will contract with Hearty Roots for a similar experience. The committee proposed $10,100 for the Hearty Roots project.

Updated proposed budget figures were not available on Friday morning, Feb. 27.