LEWISTON — When Lewiston and Auburn voters decided the school budget in May and June, the two superintendents promised if the state provided more money for education it would be used to lower tax bills.

State lawmakers did provide more money, and the numbers have been released by the Maine Department of Education.

The superintendents said Thursday that property taxes for education will go down.

In Lewiston some of the money is being used to reduce this year’s taxes and help the budget in future years. In Auburn all of the extra money is going to reduce this year’s taxes. 

Lewiston is receiving $2.15 million more in the state budget approved on July 4.

That money will help reduce the property tax rate for education to $10.18 per $1,000 of value, down from $10.29 in the school budget approved in May, and down from last year’s tax rate of $10.30, Superintendent Bill Webster said.

What that means for a home valued at $150,000 is $16.50 less in property taxes, compared to the budget approved in May, and $18 less than the budget approved by voters in 2016, he added. 

“I’m very pleased with the work that was done by the governor and legislators on both sides of the aisle,” Webster said. “This budget works for Lewiston.”

Lewiston City Administrator Ed Barrett said the final tax rate is $28.02 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, a 48-cent increase from last year, but less than the 59-cent increase before the extra state money.

Barrett also pointed out that because state lawmakers raised the homestead property tax exemption, many homeowners will see a decrease in their taxes. Anyone with a home assessed at $250,000 or less who has applied for the exemption will see a decrease.

“The less expensive the home, the bigger decrease in taxes you’ll see,” Barrett said.

Across the river, the Auburn School Department will receive $1.22 million more from the state, which will reduce what Auburn taxpayers will pay for education by about the same amount, Superintendent Katy Grondin said.

The money means the property tax rate for education will go down from $9.55 to $8.94, or 61 cents for every $1,000 worth of property.

For a $150,000 property, that will mean a $9.15 reduction in taxes for education from the budget passed on June 6. 

Grondin said she’s pleased the extra state money allows Auburn to reduce property taxes for education. 

But because all of the extra money is going to reduce taxes, it won’t help build up savings for next year’s budget, Grondin said.

This year, $900,000 from the School Department’s fund balance was used for the budget, leaving a little less than $500,000.

In Lewiston, the extra state money is preventing more than half a million dollars in cuts.

When Lewiston voters approved the school budget in May, there was a $604,000 deficit the School Committee hoped would be filled when the state budget passed.

If Lewiston didn’t receive more, the cuts would have meant a reduction in teachers and administrators, which would have impacted students, Webster said.

The state budget also means Lewiston will have $1.3 million in savings that can be used next year to help harness property taxes, Webster said.

Other changes in the state budget include a reduction of what’s required of local school districts to spend for education in order to get the full state education funding, Webster said. 

Students leave Martel Elementary School in March last year. The new state budget means more money for schools, including Lewiston.

Auburn Middle School Principal Celena Ranger supervised as students leave school in May. The new state budget means more money for schools, including Auburn. The $1.2 million will be used to lower property taxes, Superintendent Katy Grondin said. 

FY18 GPA Preliminary Compare by sunjournal on Scribd

“I’m very pleased with the work that was done by the governor and legislators on both sides of the aisle. This budget works for Lewiston.” – School Superintendent Bill Webster

Webster: New state budget frees Title I money

LEWISTON — One reason Lewiston is receiving so much more for education from the state is an improvement in the state budget that will no longer keep federal money intended to help poor students, Lewiston School Superintendent Bill Webster said.

Prior to July 4, the state education funding formula used to keep some federal Title I money intended for school districts. Webster was a critic of that practice and was considering legal action if things didn’t change.

Things did change.

In Gov. Paul LePage’s budget, all of the Title I money to schools went to schools, not the state, Webster said.

In addition, Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, pushed for changes that made the correction permanent in upcoming state budgets.

“It used to be a Title I deduction built right into the funding formula,” Webster said. “That was eliminated. I’m pleased this budget corrects that.”

Libby said, “Credit goes to members of the Lewiston delegation who helped, along with others, to make that change happen.”

Overall, the $2.15 million increase to Lewiston schools from the state “will not only help address unfunded needs in the classroom,” Libby said, “but will also ease the upward pressure on property taxes.”