Letter to the editor

Mon, 04/21/2025 - 4:58pm

Dear Editor:

Under budgeting of expected revenue in the Edgecomb school budget is a serious problem. As noted in a previous letter, Maine regulations (MRS Title 20-A, §15689-B.(6)) require that all but a small portion of excess school funds at the end of a fiscal year “must” be applied to the next or subsequent three (3) years’ school budget.

Consider then the following:

1. The difference between budgeted and expected “Tuition” revenue in FY2024 produced a surplus of $195,325.

2. The difference between budgeted and expected “Tuition” revenue in FY2025shouldproduce a surplus of $460,081.

3. The difference between budgeted and expected “Subsidy and Grants” revenue for FY2024 (the last year of currently available data) produced a surplus of $191,940.

4. The balance in the “Capital Improvement Reserve” (which was $68,371 at beginning of FY2024) is now $0*.

5. The balance in the “Student Expense Reserve” (which was $140,000 at the beginning of FY2024) is now $0*.

6. The amount of excess school funds applied to FY2025 & FY2026 is $0.

Therefore, there are $1,055,717 of unaccounted funds. Where are those funds? Were they spent or do they reside in the “General Fund”? If spent, this was in addition to the already budgeted 10% year-over-year increase in school expenses,each of the past two years. If remaining in the “General Fund,” all but $188,013 should be applied to a subsequent school budget(s), potentially reducing the FY2026 tax allocation by $867,704.

Taxpayers are entitled to an accurate accounting. Schools can easily determine the allowed carry forwardof a budget surplus by using a “plug and play” spreadsheet,provided by the Maine Department of Education, that performs the calculation. Excuses such as “we don’t have an audit” are unacceptable. Without that accounting, the best option is for the taxpayers to vote “No” on school warrants #17 to #21. That vote will force the school to live within its [already generous] budget, just like the rest of us.