The school budget referendum question reads
Do you favor approving the Town of Brunswick school budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the Brunswick Town Council meeting held May 31, 2012?
As reported in the Times Record (“Council approves $54.6M budget“), on May 31 the Town Council approved the school board’s $33,491,029 budget, which is 0.5 percent more than last year’s.
Due to declining enrollments, an increase in expected ability to pay for education, and other factors, Brunswick schools lost $2.4 million in state and federal funds this year.
To make up for the lost funding, Brunswick’s local property tax rate would need to rise by 5.45%, from $23.68 to $24.97 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. (Note: while Brunswick’s mill rate is currently 23.68, our assessment ratio is just 66%, which is below the 70% minimum ratio required by MRSA Title 36, section 327: Minimum assessing standards.)
More details about the 2012-2013 school budget is available in the notes for the May 3 school budget presentation to the town council.
Real Estate Taxes in Brunswick should use the simple Fair market Value with simple Mill Rate for it’s formula. That is what most towns and cities in Maine use. It is extremely difficult to compare Brunswick Real Estate Taxes to other towns and cities. Brunswick needs to be more transparent for their citizens to make informed decisions with regards to their taxes.