Question 1

 Shall the district appropriate $21,245,839.20 for the total cost of funding public education from K-12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) Funding Act and shall MSAD #9 raise $6,703,218.45 and assess the amounts set forth below as each municipality’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from K-12 as described in the EPS Funding Act in accordance with MRSA, Title 20-A, § 15688?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

 Question 2

Shall MSAD #9 raise $613,089 for the annual payments on debt service previously approved by the voters of the District for non-state funded school construction projects, the non-state funded portions of the school construction projects, and minor capital projects in addition to the funds appropriated as the local share of the District’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from K-12?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 3

Shall MSAD #9 raise and appropriate $1,211,074 in additional local funds, which exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model by $379,670 as required to fund the budget recommended by the Board of School Directors?

The Board of School Directors Recommends $ 1,211,074  for additional local funds and gives the following reasons for exceeding the State’s Essential Programs and Services funding model by $ 379,670.  These funds are needed to pay for special education, athletics & co-curricular activities, operation and maintenance of plant and student transportation costs that are not recognized by the Essential Programs and Services funding model.

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 4

Shall MSAD #9 authorize the Board of School Directors to expend $23,776,097 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008 from the District’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from K-12 as described in the EPS Funding Act, non-state-funded construction projects, additional local funds for school purposes under MRSA, Title 20-A, § 15690, unexpended balances, tuition receipts, state subsidy and other receipts for the support of schools?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 5

Shall the district appropriate $12,535,999 for Preschool and K-12 Instructional Expenses?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 6

Shall the District appropriate $2,492,790 for Instructional Support?

 Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

                        Appropriated           Raised

Chesterville      $1,740,034      $     441,936

Farmington         7,767,479        2,590,608

Industry              1,191,892             482,856

New Sharon       1,954,617             466,860

New Vineyard       815,840             352,656

Temple                 718,109              213,156

Vienna                  569,388              328,104

Weld                     416,418              416,418

Wilton                6,072,061           1,410,624

Total              $ 21,245,839      $ 6,703,218

The District’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from K-12 is the amount of money determined by state law to be the minimum amount the District must raise and assess in order to receive the full amount of state dollars.

Non-state-funded debt service is the amount of money needed for the annual payments on the District’s long-term debt for major capital school construction projects and minor capital renovation projects that are not approved for state subsidy.  The bonding of this long-term debt was previously approved by the voters of the District.

Projects covered by this question include the debt on:

Mt. Blue Middle School

Mt. Blue High School Floor Tiles

Cascade Brook Gym

 The additional local funds are those locally raised funds over and above the District’s local contribution to the total cost of funding public education from K-12 as described in the EPS Funding Act and local amounts raised for the annual debt service payment on non-state-funded school construction projects, and minor capital projects that will help achieve the District’s budget for educational programs.

This money is required to run the school system because the State of Maine is only funding 95% of the EPS model.   This article is almost $109,808 less than what voter approved last year. If the state were completely funding the EPS model.  The EPS model supplies very little money to support athletics and co-curricular activities and the transportation model does not adequately cover our transportation costs.

This is a summary question.  It authorizes the District Board to expend the money raised and appropriated in the previous Questions as well as revenues from all other sources.  This question does not raise additional money.  The following is a summary of all revenue sources:

State Allocation          $14,542,621

Balance Forward              207,664

Other Revenues                  65,938

Tuition Receipts                   150,000

Medicaid Reimbursement     320,000

Transfer to Adult Education   (37,507)

Local Allocation                 8,527,381

                                      $23,776,097

TotalRevenues$23,776,097    

The Pre-K - 12 INSTRUCTION account includes expenses directly related to classroom teaching and learning such as salaries for teachers, substitutes, and para-professionals and classroom instructional materials and supplies.

Elementary Instruction                 $5,645,883

Secondary Instruction                    2,988,622

Special Services                            2,444,546

Differentiated Curriculum                  134,977

District ADA/504                                   5,000

Vocational Instruction                       913,733 Undistributed Instruction                   403,238

                                                   $12,535,999

The INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT account includes expenses for direct support of classroom instruction such as guidance, library, extracurricular, student health, staff development, computers and technology.

Elementary Athletics                        $ 65,650

Elementary Co-Curricular                   21,936

Secondary Athletics                          293,482

Secondary Co-Curricular                    46,520

Libraries                                            425,535

Health Services                                 222,863

Guidance                                           577,355

Staff Development                             205,485

Computers/Technology                      633,964

                                                      $2,492,790

 Question 7

Shall the District appropriate $1,968,497 for Leadership?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 8

Shall the District appropriate $3,936,628 for Operations?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 9

Shall the District appropriate $1,813,102 for Transportation?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 10

Shall the District appropriate $1,029,081 for Other Commitments Including Debt Service?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 11

Shall the District appropriate $327,776 for Adult Education and should the District raise $89,481 as the local share?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Question 12

In addition to the amounts in Questions 1-11, shall the District authorize the Board of School Directors to expend such Additional State, Federal and Other Funds Received, during the 2007-2008 fiscal year for the school and/or adult education purposes provided that such grants, programs or other sources do not require the expenditure of other funds not previously appropriated?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

The LEADERSHIP account includes all expenses system-wide for the direction and management of individual schools, instructional programs, and the district superintendent’s office.

Elementary Administration         $755,420

Secondary Administration          404,265

Vocational Administration          114,609

District Administration                426,728

Board of Directors                     267,475

                                             $1,968,497

The OPERATIONS account includes expenses for maintenance of physical plant and grounds, minor capital construction projects, insurance, utilities, equipment, supplies, and portable classroom lease/purchases.

Mt. Blue High School          $899,615

Foster Technology Center  147,365

Mt. Blue Middle School        495,189

Cascade Brook                   305,544

Mallett                                  297,254

Cape Cod Hill                       262,687

Superintendent’s Office        50,238

Cushing                               142,875

Academy Hill                       343,980

Weld                                      67,248

Undistributed                       871,783

Bus Garage/Wilton Shelter   52,850

                                                     $3,936,628

 The TRANSPORTATION account includes expenses for salaries and benefits of drivers & maintenance of buses, bus leases, insurance, fuel, repairs/supplies, and outside services.

Transportation Costs  $1,813,102

                                                   $1,813,102*

* More detailed information is available in the district budget book on this account and all of the other accounts.

The OTHER COMMITMENTS account includes expenses for capital debt service obligations.

Interest           $303,968

Principal            725,113

                     $1,029,081

The Debt Service Allocation is the minimum amount required to honor capital debt payments and receive the Districts full debt service state subsidy share.  

Question 13

In the event of emergencies or unexpected expenses shall the board of School Directors be authorized to transfer not more than 5% of each expenditure line to another line or lines, provided there is no increase in the total budgeted expenditures?

Board of Directors recommends a

“Yes” vote.

Please remember to get out an vote on Tuesday,

June 12, 2007

Please support our schools by voting “YES”

Local Data Summary

                                               Current                    Proposed               Increase

                                                FY 07                         FY 08                (Decrease)

Total Expenses                 $22,984,440       $23,776,097      3.4%

State Allocation                 $13,827,697       $ 14,542,621     5.2%

Local Assessment             $ 8,309,587       $ 8,527,381      2.6%