SCARBOROUGH — Taxpayers in Scarborough shrugged off the promise of higher
taxes at the polls May 15, approving a $37.4 million school budget by a vote of
683-585.
A second question asked voters whether the budget was too
high (592), too low (297) or acceptable (368).
New Superintendent Dr. George Entwistle III called his first
budget a “correction year,” saying the district had budgeted too close to the
bone in recent years. Spending for next year is up $1.7 million, with a $2.9
million hike in the amount covered by local property taxes – thanks to the
expiration of federal jobs bill money. However, school budget director Kate
Bolton pointed out that even with the increase, Scarborough still spends less
than the states “essential programs and services” budget model predicts it
should spend to be on par with the state’s “high performing” school districts.
Combined with municipal spending and county taxes, the
property tax rate in Scarborough is expected to be up 90 cents to $13.93 per
$1,000 of property valuation. For the owner of the median single-family home in
Scarborugh, valued at $300,000, that's will cost an extra $270.
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