Mt. Blue Regional School District

RSU 9

Proposed FY25 Budget Review

​

COMMUNITY | CULTURE | CURRICULUM

“Working together to provide high-quality educational opportunities for all.”

​

​

​

​

Chesterville | Farmington | Industry | New Sharon | New Vineyard | Starks | Temple | Vienna | Weld | Wilton

April 11, 2024 6:00 p.m.

Mt. Blue Campus Forum

Agenda

OBJECTIVES: Our 2024-2025 RSU 9 Budget is built on five areas of focus: 

​

• Objective 1: Support increased student academic, social emotional, behavioral, and family needs.

​

• Objective 2: Meet negotiated wage, benefit, and inflation increases.

​

• Objective 3: Implement an RSU 9 Balance-Forward Plan.

​

• Objective 4: Continue with present district programming options.

​

• Objective 5: Develop a new Special Education revenue source.

​

STRATEGIES:

• To maintain our current level of programming and services in the FY25 Budget while investing in or developing:
• The RSU 9 Strategic Plan.
• The Ten-Year Facilities & Maintenance Plan.
• Systemic multi-year program planning.
• Increased academic and behavioral student intervention support.
• Full-time PreK.
• Preparations for 3 & 4 yr. olds becoming RSU 9’s responsibility next 3 years.
• A Balance Forward Use (previous district savings) Plan over three years to reduce tax increases.
• Savings came from:

​

​

2

Agenda (Cont…)

• Positions unable to hire
• Federal ESSER Grant funds spent on district needs
• Unplanned for grants written (2020-2023) used to supplement district expenses.
• Why?
• State maximum balance forward allowed under Maine law moving from 10% to 5% by the end of 2025.

​

​

PRESENTATION: Will now focus on Warrant Article Cost Centers

​

• Reminder this budget is still in draft form and subject to adjustments as may be suggested by the board

​

• Proposal’s “Funding” is based upon:
• Present Ed 279 Funding from Maine DOE - January 17, 2024
• 50.1% of our funding comes from the state of Maine
• 33.1% will come from our local community taxes
• Foster Tech Center receiving 100% of their funding from the state
• Available Balance Forward Funds use 2024-2027.

​

3

Proposed Overall FY 25 Budget Tax Increase

Proposed FY25 Town Assessments

​

4.45%

​

​

​

​

​

4

Proposed Increases w/Balance Forward Funding

5

Total Budget

​

• FY25 Budget $45,155,670
• Increase $ 3,445,002

​

• Tax Increase 4.45%
• Total Budget Increase 8.26% (using balance forward savings)

​

6

Article 1: Regular Instruction

• Pre-K - Grade 12 Regular Instructional Program ……………………………………….. $12,692,567
• Increase of $1,412,989 over FY24 Level
• Overall Increase
• +12.53%
• Reduced by Balance Forward Funds
• -$720,000
• New Taxpayer Funds Increase
• $692,989
• Specific Breakdowns
• Staffing #s
• 24-25 as compared to 23-24

7

Article 1: Regular Instruction (cont…)

• New Positions
• PreK Staffing (3 Teachers, 3 Ed Techs) LT
• One Teacher and Ed Tech at Cushing
• Two Teachers and two Ed Techs at Mallett
• State program rules expect two adults in PreK Classrooms.
• Revenue from additional students will offset most of the cost of new staff over three years.
• Mallett Kindergarten Ed Techs (3) LT
• Middle School Interventionist (Teacher) LT
• Half Time Alt. Ed. (Teacher) MBHS (One Year)
• Elementary Teachers (2) AHS, CCHS (One Year)
• Permanent Subs (2) MBHS (One Year)
• Contractual Wage and Benefit Increases (included in all cost centers)
• Professional Staff 6%
• Support Staff in negotiations
• Projected 1.82% Increase in Health Insurance (rates & potential staff coverage changes)

8

Article 2: Special Instruction

• Instructional Program for Students Pre-K - Adult Identified with Special Needs ……$8,266,470
• Increase of $143,056
• Overall Increase
• +1.76%
• Would have been +10.38% without applying $700,000 of previous MaineCare funds collected (from FY22 & FY23 Revenue)
• Present # of identified students 397 (fluctuates) & Present # of new referrals 47 (Largest number in six years)
• Present known new students for 24-25 + 19
• Reduced by revenue funds
• $700,000
• Specific Breakdowns:
• Training & equipment/supplies, hours for billable staff support with MaineCare.
• Contractual Wage and Benefit Increases

(If needed, we will use the Special Ed Reserve Account for potential Out of District Student Placement needs.)

​

9

Article 2: Special Instruction (cont…)

• Revenue Plan
• MaineCare Billing
• Schools can apply for MaineCare billing reimbursement from the State of Maine for students receiving specialized services identified with an Individualized Educational Plan (Special Education)
• Services RSU 9 can be reimbursed for include:
• Speech
• Occupational Therapy
• Behavior support positions in specialized programs
• Social Work services
• Autism programming etc.
• Hours and services rendered must be documented daily to be submitted
• FY24 Budget will recoup over $400,000 of revenue to put towards the FY24 expenditures
• FY25 Budget is looking to expand our collection to $1.3 million
• Staffing #s for 24-25 as compared to 23-24 + 2 Prof
• Clinical Coordinator
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

​

​

10

Article 3: Foster Career & Technical Education Center

REMINDER: All Foster Tech Center (FTC) funds come directly from the Maine Dept. of Ed. Any and all present budget increases for FTC come out of their state funding along with their own Carry Forward Funds, not directly from RSU 9 Communities.

​

Their additional costs and funding are added to the RSU 9 bottom line but any and all increases do not add to local taxes.

• Career & Technical Education Programs ………………………………………………..$4,082,632
• An increase of $788,178
• Overall Increase
• 23.92%
• New Taxpayer Funds Increase
• ZERO
• Specific Breakdowns
• New programs include:
• 2 new instructors ($175,000)
• 2 new ed-techs ($ 90,000)
• Increase in balance forward from 23-24 to 24-25 +$262,000

11

Article 4: Student & Staff Services/Support

• Programs in Guidance, Social Work, Library Media Centers, School Health (Nurses),

Curriculum & Assessment, and Instructional Technology ……………………………………………………$3,819,656

• An increase of $518,126
• Overall Increase
• +15.69%
• Reduced by Balance Forward Funds
• -$100,000
• New Taxpayer Funds Increase
• $418,126
• Specific Breakdowns
• Increase in PD across district
• Includes training and paid time for extra staff hours (summer, Saturday, every)
• Instructional Tech line decreased by $42,145 (4.95% decrease)
• Social worker positions have been adjusted to actual costs for 24-25 under the new negotiated contract
• Other position changes
• Multilingual Learner Ed Tech ($45,000)
• Family Engagement Coordinator ($100,000)
• Increase Nurse at CCHS ($8,000)
• Extra PD $$$ ($125,000)

​

​

12

Article 5: Other Instruction

• Co and Extra Curricular Programs ………………………………………..$681,024
• Increase of $117,881
• Overall Increase
• 20.93%
• Specific Breakdowns
• Expenses Support Coach/Advisor Stipends, Supplies, Equipment, and Fees
• Athletics
• Co-Curricular across multiple grade spans
• BARR stipends in all schools (approximately $80,000)

(Increased systemic-wide Behavioral, Attendance, Academic support)

13

Article 6: System Administration

​

• Superintendent's Office, School Board, Fiscal Services (Business Office),

District Wide portion of Instructional Technology ……………………………………….$1,608,093

• Increase of $178,472
• Overall Increase
• +12.48%
• Specific Breakdowns
• Tech program fees (SeeSaw, Security, Google Workplace, Subscriptions approximately $35,000)
• Western Maine Service Center fees $42,500
• By being a member we receive in return $144,000 in state funding to apply to all costs.
• Salary and benefit increases (Finance Director, HR Director, Admin Assistant)
• Staff Wellness ($12,000 increase)
• Recognition
• Celebrations
• Health Initiatives
• 11 staff work at the District Office (under this Cost Center) including the Director of Finance & Superintendent.
• “Highly Efficient System Administrative Offices are at 4%” (Jim Rier, Maine DOE)
• RSU 9 is at 3.56% of the total draft budget

​

14

Article 7: School Administration

• School Building Level Administrative Offices (Principals & Admin. Assistants)

All Elementary (5), Middle (1), and High (1) Schools …………………...$1,948,613

• Increase of $113,482
• Overall Increase
• 6.18%
• Specific Breakdowns
• Contractual Increases for Wages, Benefits & Coursework
• Building Administrators (9)
• Administrative Assistant Support (12.75)

15

Article 8: Student Transportation

• All Aspects of Student Transportation Services ………………………..$2,927,159
• Increase of $14,871
• Overall Increase
• 0.51%
• Specific Breakdowns
• Contractual Wage & Benefit Increases
• $170,000 increase in salaries and benefits reduced by
• Lease payment reduction of -$42,000
• Contracted bus service reduced by -$55,000
• Several present supply/parts/tire costs are being purchased this spring reducing the budget by -$36,000
• Diesel reduction of -$35,000 based on late spring diesel purchase

16

Article 9: Plant Maintenance and Operations

• All Aspects of Custodial and Maintenance Operations ………………………………$5,187,663
• Increase of $226,058
• Overall Increase
• 4.56%
• Specific Breakdowns
• Contractual Wage & Benefit Increases
• Contracted services increases
• Small repair and maintenance increases per building
• Holman House Costs $27,000 (was projected at $20,000)
• Town Costs:

​

​

• Insurance increase of 20%
• Reserve Accounts for Capital and Fuel Reserve will be used if a major problem occurs

​

17

Article 10: Debt Service

• Existing Expenses for Project Related Debt Service ………..$3,941,793
• Decrease of $68,111
• -1.70% Decrease

(decrease also reduces overall funds from the state)

18

Adult Education Program

• All Aspects of Adult Education Programming ……………..$599,956

(is it’s own individual article)

• Overall Increase of $62,314
• +11.59%
• No increase to the local share over 23/24
• Using 50% of their present revenue/ Balance Forward total
• State funding not used
• Grants not totally used
• Funds collected last three years for Adult evening classes.
• Why?
• Contractual Wage and Benefit Increases
• Adult Literacy Contracted Services (outreach)
• Career Professional Services (job preparedness)

​

19

FY24 to FY25

• Overall Budget Increases the Last 10 Years
• FY25 - + 8.26% overall, 4.45% to taxpayers
• FY24 - + 4.30% overall, 5.22% to taxpayers
• FY23 - + 0.62%
• FY22 - + 2.97%
• FY21 - (-1.69%)
• FY20 - + 0.027%
• FY19 - + 6.25%
• FY18 - (-2.06%)
• FY17 - (-2.10%)
• FY16 - + 7.65%

20

Community Questions

?

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

21