Voters approved the entire proposed $11,742,320 Community School District 2024 budget at the CSD Annual Meeting May 25. Over 150 citizens from Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor gathered and passed all 22 articles.

"I had no idea what was going to happen here tonight, but I am incredibly pleased and thankful,” said Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler. “We work for the community, we want to know what they have to say, and this was just an amazing outpouring of support for their kids."

The total tax assessment in the budget was $9.5 million, of which Boothbay is responsible for $6 million and Boothbay Harbor is responsible for $3.5 million. There are also $2.3 million in non-tax funding sources such as tuition and state subsidies.

Article 14, to raise $4.4 million in local funds exceeding the state’s Essential Programs and Services Funding Act allocation model, was the only measure voted on by secret ballot. It passed 119 to 33 with three blanks. The EPS act requires the district to raise $5 million to receive the full amount of state funding. However, the additional funding was recommended by the school board to maintain student-teacher ratios, special education programming, extracurricular programs, and transportation.

All other articles, including funding regular instruction, special education, student and staff support, and facilities maintenance were voted in public.

Some people were concerned about the cost of the budget. From 2023, it represents a 6% increase in spending and a 15% increase in tax assessment. School board member Stephanie Hawke said there was not enough discussion throughout the budget process. “I think it’s a big budget, the biggest increase we’ve had, and there was not enough talk about it, they just pushed it through. I think it's wrong. People are suffering in this town. The price of everything has gone up and we’re not living within our means.”

Hawke said she wants to support the children and keep them in the region. However, according to her, families are moving out of the area due to rising expenses and the number of children does not  justify the cost. She wants to discuss other options such as a regional school. According to the CSD, there are a projected 387 students between the two towns for 2024.

Kahler said the budget was not a lot of “whistles and bells.” He said it represented only one new staff job and the rest was to continue the ongoing district program. As reported in the Register, he said much of the rise was due to several factors, including last year’s budget which was a tax decrease for both towns, fixed costs for goods and services continue to rise, as well as a loss of state subsidy and COVID funds.

According to Kahler and several longtime CSD board and trustee members, this was the best attended CSD Annual Meeting in memory. This was the 69th meeting in CSD history. School Board Chair Peggy Splaine, who has served on the board for 10 years, said usually around 50 people attend. This year, she saw people she had never seen before.

"This was amazing, and this is the turnout we would like to see for everything that we do, especially looking at the future of education,” Splaine said. “This turnout was outstanding, and it shows how many people care about education.”

However, both Splaine and Hawke said they would like to see even more people involved. Hawke said she thought the turnout was great but thinks paper ballots would get more people voting. Splaine said she spoke to many people who could not make it due to sporting events, childcare, or other commitments. However, she said the district is working on changes in the school charter to address the issue, including allowing voting at the polls. She added, she looks forward to more community involvement.

“This is exactly what we were hoping for,” she said about the meeting. “Whether it was yes or no, I just want people to participate and feel like this is their school, their budget."