East Millinocket Schools Propose Budget Cuts

EAST MILLINOCKET -- East Millinocket school officials are proposing a budget that calls for 12.3% less than a year ago.

The proposed cut in the East Millinocket school budget is the largest since 1995, when town and school officials cut their budgets as part of an agreement with Great Northern Paper to end a tax dispute.

Similarly, this year’s cut is a result of an agreement entered into with Brascan, the new owner of the Great Northern mill.

“It’s been the toughest year,” said school board chairman Don Hendsbee. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Hopefully, things will straighten out and we can put it all behind us and look to the opportunities we have,” he added.

The proposed $3,581,478 budget proposal cuts overall spending by $326,751 compared with last year, $41,811 less than the 1995 budget.

The school budget proposal asks taxpayers for $2,391,089, 12.3% less than last year.

Despite a conservative budget and staff cuts totaling 9.5 people, East Millinocket school superintendent Sandra MacArthur said that there would be little effect on academic programs since teachers would teach 7 periods a day, one more than last year.

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Several stipend positions, where people are paid a set fee for a service, were also cut from the budget.

Unlike their neighbors in Millinocket, East Millinocket school administrators agreed to forego pay increases next year, and members of the school board agreed to a 50% cut in their own pay.

Residents of East Millinocket will consider the budget proposals during the annual town meeting in June.

-- Ken Anderson 05/06/03