SCARBOROUGH – Residents in Scarborough will go to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, in their third attempt to approve a new school budget.
The proposal on the table is for a $43.5 million spending package that would raise the tax rate by 44 cents per $1,000 of valuation when combined with the municipal and county budgets. The proposed school budget represents a $250,000 reduction from the original request of $43.8 million back in June.
Meanwhile in an attempt to keep the overall tax rate increase below 3 percent, town councilors have agreed to reduce the municipal side of the budget by $180,000.
And, with the town receiving an additional $884,891 in state aid to education, Town Manager Tom Hall has said the increase in school spending for the new fiscal year would be under 5 percent.
The hope is that this will satisfy the vocal tax advocates, who have consistently urged residents to reject the school budget as adding too much to the tax rate.
In addition, school supporters have already weighed in, saying they will support the $43.5 million budget proposal, even though it does not give them everything they wanted.
The polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Hall.
See www.keepmecurrent.com for vote results.
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