State Funding Proposals Down (once again) for 2016-17

On January 29, the State of Maine provided local school districts with their preliminary state subsidy printouts based on the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding formula.   Throughout the state, 131 school districts learned that the state is proposing to provided less subsidy than the year before.  SAD27 is one of those districts that stand to lose money.

It is imperative that the residents of SAD27 understand that reduced state funding results in increased local funding if we are to continue to offer programs and services that meet the needs of our students.  Since many local residents are already feeling the effects over the years of reduced state contributions, we must make our voices heard, and hold the state to their promise of 55% state funding, which is a statute that has never been met.

Maine School Management Association, the association that represents school districts, is urging us to contact our legislators to ask them to approve an additional $20 million for public schools next year instead of the $2.3 million the state plans to send out to schools.

Here are some recent press articles about the initial subsidy outlook:

http://bangordailynews.com/2016/02/03/news/state/maine-school-leaders-confront-projected-cuts-to-state-aid-next-year/

http://www.pressherald.com/2016/02/04/maine-property-owners-could-feel-hit-from-20-million-gap-in-school-funding/

Let's hope that changes are made before districts are forced to create budgets that will severely impact education.