OAKLAND — Residents in Oakland-based Regional School Unit 18 will vote Wednesday night on a proposed 2012-13 budget of $33,029,239, which is $1.1 million more than the current operating total.

The amount approved at Wednesday’s 6 p.m. district budget hearing at Messalonskee High School will be voted on at the polls June 12 in Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome and Sidney.

If approved, the budget would increase property taxes in four of the district’s five communities, Superintendent Gary Smith said.

In Oakland, annual property taxes on a $100,000 home would increase $78.

In China, they would go up $59, in Belgrade $51 and in Sidney $43, Smith said.

In Rome, property taxes would decrease $9.

Increased local property taxes is a familiar story in communities throughout the area.

Because of a loss of federal stimulus money and substantial reductions in state revenue, Smith said, the cost of education continues to shift to the local property taxpayers.

Smith said the five-community district has lost about $1.5 million in state and federal support for the second consecutive year.

During the last five years, Smith said the state’s contribution to the district’s school funding has dropped $3.4 million, from $16.9 million to $13.5 million.

Smith said in order to receive the state’s share of educational funding, the local contribution has risen nearly $4.2 million, from almost $11.9 million in 2009 to just over $16 million next year.

“I thought this might have been the turnaround year, but that’s not the case,” Smith said.

“It’s not a spending problem, it’s more a revenue problem,” he said.

For instance, the proposed budget is $300,000 less than the district’s 2008-2009 operating budget, he said.

A number of factors contribute to the financial woes, Smith said, including a struggling economy, increased property valuations in district towns, a 5 percent drop in student enrollment and the state funding 47 percent of education rather than 55 percent required by state law.

In this proposed budget, Smith said 10 positions, including four teaching posts, have been eliminated.

In the last five years, 45 positions have been cut districtwide, he said.

Last week, Smith and School Board directors presented the proposed budget at four public hearings in district schools. About 20 people attended Thursday night’s hearing at Belgrade Central School.

Smith told attendees that educators followed several principles while building the proposal.

The superintendent said it was important to maintain programs and courses and to keep the average class sizes at 15-17 students in kindergarten through second grade, 18-20 students in third through fifth grade and 20-plus students in sixth through 12th grade.

In Regional School Unit 18, Smith said 47 percent of the budget is used for regular instruction. Facilities maintenance as well as student and staff support, which includes guidance, library, technology and nursing, both use about 11 percent. Special education uses about 10 percent and cocurricular programs require about 2.35 percent.

The cost of programs and services that the state deems essential is $29,754,849.

The district will be asked to raise an additional $1,200,076 in order to maintain a larger guidance staff at Messalonskee High School than deemed essential by the state and class sizes smaller than deemed essential by the state.

In addition, the local money will pay for technology support and extracurricular programs also not deemed essential by the state.

District residents will discuss and vote on 17 articles of the proposed budget Wednesday. Articles 1-10 authorize expenditures including:

* regular instruction, $15,496,110

* special education, $3,244,986

* career and technical education, $520,500

* other instruction (extracurricular activities), $758,599

* student and staff support, $3,472,008

* system administration, $782,695

* school administration , $1,772,242

* transportation, $2,210, 362

* facilities maintenance, $3,650,912

* debt service, $1,182,942.

Voters will also be asked to raise $48,349 of the $84,245 total for adult education.

The amount of debt to be paid for previously approved construction projects $71,500.

At the budget referendum June 12, registered voters will cast a yes or no vote at the polls on whether to approve the 2012-13 budget, if it is approved at Wednesday’s public hearing.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m., to 8 p.m. at the China Town Office and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Belgrade Center for All Seasons, Williams Elementary School in Oakland, Rome Town Office and Sidney Town Office.

Beth Staples — 861-9252

bstaples@centralmaine.com

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