The proposed budget for RSU 18 (Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome, and Sidney schools) is not in tune with, nor consistent with the poor economy we are facing and must to be reduced.

The proposed RSU-18 budget increase of over $1.1 million (or 3.49 percent) from the previous year is not compatible with the earnings of district households.

In Sidney, the majority at Town Meeting in March approved a 6.7 percent increase in spending, which equates to an increase of $30 per $100,000 valuation. A Sidney home worth $182,700 (the median value per Kennebec Valley Council of Governments) will see an increase of $55 in property taxes.

Now add to the above the RSU 18 proposed budget increase — $44 per $100,000 valuation or another $80 for the same home above. The total tax increase, for that Sidney house valued at $182,700 will be $135.

Projections of Education Statistics to 2020, 39th Edition, September 2011, published by the National Center for Education Statistics, projects steadily decreasing school enrollment through 2020.

Yet the RSU 18 superintendent said previously in this publication that the proposed budget “maintains all current programs and keeps class sizes within the district’s targeted ranges.” Class sizes range from 15-17 students in kindergarten-second grade, 16-18 students in third-fifth grade and fewer than 20 students in grades six-12.

More needs to be done to lower the RSU 18 school budget, and the best place to start is to vote no on the budget, on June 12, during primary voting.

Tim Russell

Sidney

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