Lewiston voters pass school budget

Lewiston residents line up to get their ballots as others cast theirs Tuesday at Longley Elementary School. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

LEWISTON — In a close vote, Lewiston voters approved the school budget Tuesday.

The vote was 586-548, City Clerk Kathy Montejo announced after ballot workers counted the vote at Longley Elementary School gym.

“Wow!” said Lewiston Superintendent Bill Webster, who was waiting for the results. Also waiting was Lewiston City Councilor Michael Marcotte.

The second, nonbinding ballot question asked voters if the proposed budget was too high, acceptable or too low.

Those saying the budget was too high numbered 570, while acceptable received 402 votes and too low 145 votes.

It was a record turnout for a Lewiston school budget referendum, with 4.3 percent of the city’s 26,605 registered voters voting, or 1,135 people.

The highest before this year was 2017 when 834 people voted. The lowest was in 2012 when 349 people voted.

“I’m very relieved and pleased the school budget passed,” Webster said. “I thank the voters of Lewiston. I recognize that we have work to do so that everyone in the city feels we’re spending school funds appropriately.”

Robocalls that went out to Lewiston homes Monday night urging voters to vote against the budget impacted the turnout, Webster said.

“The robocalls increased voter turnout on both sides of the issue, because I had a number of people calling” who got the robocall and were more motivated to vote, he said.

The calls were initiated and paid for by Benjamin Martin, a former Lewiston School Committee member.

The close vote reflects the higher than normal budget increase, he said. “It’s hard for people to understand, and for some, and understandably, hard to them to feel they could afford that. I get that,” Webster said.

“I’d like to think this will be the only increase of this magnitude that this city needs to consider for some time to come.”

A big reason for the 11.7 percent budget increase was timing: the same year that state lawmakers boosted state education funding was also the same year the state started paying for Lewiston’s new Connors Elementary School. More money from the state for education funding (this year totaling $61.54 million) and the new school ($3.3 million from the state) made the budget bigger than usual.

To get all of the state money, Lewiston taxpayers had to increase spending by 5.3 percent. The school budget means an annual increase of $81 on a property valued at $150,000.

“It was a challenge communicating that. We have work to do,” Webster said. “But I am gratified.”

Martin said the new budget is “unfortunate for the senior citizens on fixed incomes that won’t see even half that of an increase in their retirement. Some say it’s only 10$ a month, but for many its their livelihood.”

Montejo said one ballot is disputed, because the way it’s marked she can’t tell if the voter was voting yes or no. Either way, the one ballot doesn’t make a difference, Montejo said.

The proposed budget was $82.9 million, up from the current budget of $74.3 million. The budget was 11.7 percent higher because of more money from the state.

The state is giving Lewiston $3.3 million for the new Connors Elementary School scheduled to open in 2019. The state is covering that cost, but that money inflates the budget increase.

The state is also giving Lewiston more money because last year legislators boosted state money for education. The budget gave Lewiston $61.54 million in state money. Lewiston taxpayers will pay $20.1 million, which is a 5.3 percent increase.

A Lewiston resident casts his vote on the school budget at Longley Elementary School on Tuesday morning. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

Text of robocalls that were made Monday night. The robocalls were intiated by Benjamin Martin:

“Do you agree with raising our taxes to pay for an irresponsible 12 percent increased in the school budget? Hi neighbors, I’m Janet Beaudoin, mother of two. I’m calling tonight to urge you to vote no on tomorrow’s budget validation at Longley Elementary.

“A responsible budget should focus on classroom sizes and teachers, not six-figure salaries for administrators.