Six school districts get surprise penalties
By Matthew Stone mstone@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA -- Fayette and Winthrop residents thought their schools would be exempt from state subsidy penalties once they ratified a consolidation plan at the polls in May.
But when the first state subsidy checks arrived for the newly formed district, penalties had been subtracted.
For Winthrop, that meant its check was $15,400 less than it should have been. In Fayette, the check was $3,400 less than school officials expected.
Subsidy amounts were less than anticipated in five other Maine regions where residents voted this past spring to form new consolidated school districts.
Fayette and Winthrop's superintendent said the school district will still be able to pay bills this summer.
"I think we're OK," said Briane Coulthard. "It just startled us."
The other school districts affected serve students in the Boothbay, Calais, Lee, Machias and Mars Hill.
Jim Rier, school finance director at the Maine Department of Education, said the school districts were assessed a penalty when they shouldn't have been, and will see the proper amount restored in future subsidy checks.
School districts receive 12 state subsidy checks a year.
"It's not affecting the revenue they'll get for the year," Rier said, "just when they get it."
The penalty deduction happened because voters approved their consolidation moves in the spring, after the Department of Education already had calculated and released subsidy amounts for the 2010-11 school year, Rier said.
"The units that decided to go forward in mid- to late-June, we didn't anticipate that going forward to readjust their subsidy," he said.
Rier said Department of Education employees are at work adjusting the districts' subsidy amounts.
"We're working very hard to make sure that happens for all of them," he said. "It's routine for us to make adjustments based on changing conditions, not just on (the penalties), but all year round."
Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, ext. 435
mstone@centralmaine.com
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8 COMMENTS
Reality said...
There goes the paper again stirring the pot, when the state did there part. Consolidation is a good thing. They had to draw the line somewhere to figuire out the numbers, If the towns had gotten there business done in a timely mannor they would of gotten the full amount.
July 31, 2010 at 6:39 AM Report abuse
maineilove said...
Reality, if you think consolidation is a good thing - you must not have any children in a consolidated school! By the way, you should have written "their," not "there part"; and you should have written "manner," not "mannor." I am not mocking you here; but I think you would agree education is important. Unfortunately, students in consolidated schools may not be getting the educational opportunities you and I had when we were in school because too many cuts have occurred in teaching and not in administration, like it was promised. For example, there are too many assistant superintendents, maintenance supervisors, ground supervisors, curriculum coordinators, custodial supervisors, technology integrators, and too much is being contracted out that did not used to be, like maintenance for lawns and athletic fields. Consolidation may be good in theory; but from what I have observed, it has not been that good in practice!
July 31, 2010 at 7:57 AM Report abuse
DonC said...
If there's some way to abuse the system and waste money the school department has the experience and ability far beyond any other agency in the state. And they NEVER have enough money to squander!!
July 31, 2010 at 8:28 AM Report abuse
UofA said...
What is "figuire" Reality? Is that like in consolidation edumacation?
July 31, 2010 at 9:35 AM Report abuse
jets-mainiac said...
This is a bunch of BUll Hockey,The state needs to start trimming away there fat. !!All this oney to repair roads, Huh I travel 40 minutes to work one way every day and i dont see any roads being repaired, That we voted on? I see a huge Maintence building in Topsham with heated floors, that only have one truck parked in there and it can fit at least 10 dump trucks,! This State is going into the Toilet !The DOT must be to busy to pick up all the debree and tires on the interstate.But guess what the tolls will go up again, And this time we have a better chance running something over in the road, Job Security. ! why dont you put the Salmolins out there with vest picking the stuff up, they get enough free stuff, let them work for a change !!!
July 31, 2010 at 3:44 PM Report abuse
simpleguy said...
Actually consolidation works great!
July 31, 2010 at 6:34 PM Report abuse
None said...
Yes, consolidation is a needed effort; some did it the way the governor wanted it without incentives; others did not so they paid the price. That is the will of the majority. I like the AOS though in Winthrop and Mars Hill where I pay taxes,eh? And I know there is good education happening in both of those AOS districts. Don Beattie in Winthrop, ME.
July 31, 2010 at 8:02 PM Report abuse
Retiree said...
This State is destroying the Education of our children. I hope the new Adminastration will straighten it all out.
July 31, 2010 at 10:10 PM Report abuse