School Department Receives Additional $300,000 in Budget Balancing Act
Rockland Select Board reallocates funds from highway and school projects to meet educational needs
ROCKLAND - March 18 - The Rockland Select Board approves an additional $300,000 for the school department's FY26 budget by reallocating funds from other town projects, highlighting the ongoing challenges of balancing municipal finances with increasing educational costs.
Town Administrator Doug Lapp presents a solution that shifts funds from highway department paving, rail trail improvements, and a school sidewalk plow to meet the school department's request without changing the town's conservative revenue projection practices.
"I was kind of scrambling doing this at the 11th hour, but I think this is something that could make sense," Lapp tells the board. "I would feel much more comfortable doing this rather than adjusting our revenues."
The school department initially requests the additional funding to address a $503,000 budget shortfall. Superintendent Dr. Alan Cron explains that despite reducing staff levels for the third consecutive year, the district faces significant financial challenges.
"The budget presented shows a $503,000 shortfall with a proposed plan to close the gap," Cron says. "To limit our shortfall to only $503,000, we have again reduced staffing and realigned programs and personnel for the upcoming year."
The school department's proposed solution includes increasing their use of circuit breaker and revolving funds by $100,000 each, along with the additional $300,000 from the town.
"Further reductions significantly jeopardize our ability to maintain our current level of service delivery," Cron warns. "We are fearful that we are at a tipping point."
Cron presents data showing the district has reduced 44 positions since 2020, including seven fewer pre-K to four teachers, 19.4 fewer paraprofessionals, and five fewer secretaries. During the same period, the district adds 28.3 positions, primarily to address increasing needs in English language learning and behavioral support.
The school department's challenges stem partly from state-mandated costs that exceed the town's ability to raise revenue. Cron points out that out-of-district costs are increasing by 13 percent this year.
"Everyone who's listening to this who isn't familiar with municipal finance or finance in general, 13 percent, we can only raise taxes by 2.5 percent. Thus, you have a problem," Cron explains.
Select Board members express concern about changing the town's conservative revenue projection practices to fund the request.
"I don't think it's a good practice to over-project our revenues," Select Board member Michael O'Loughlin says. "We have our financial principles in place, and our policies in place for a specific reason."
O'Loughlin adds, "If we start changing our basic principles of how we do things, then are they really principles? Are they really policies that we follow if we're just gonna amend it because we need it?"
Lapp's solution reallocates funds from several projects:
- $250,000 from highway department paving at the highway facility
- $80,000 from rail trail improvements
- $50,000 from school department sidewalk plow and pickup sander
The highway department paving project will still proceed but with the top course delayed until the following year. The rail trail improvements will be postponed, and the school department will partner with the highway department for snow removal at the Phelps School entrance.
"I think we're all dedicated in trying to help you guys find a solution to this problem," O'Loughlin tells school officials.
The Select Board reaches consensus on Lapp's proposal, which maintains the town's financial principles while addressing the school department's needs.
"This is a prime example of how we roll," says Select Board Vice Chair Lori Childs, praising Lapp's collaborative solution.
The school department representatives express gratitude for the town's support.
"Our partnership, our cooperation between the town and the schools have limited, have really insulated the effects on this district, in my opinion, as compared to others," Cron says. "We do not have a Derby Street. We do not have this income. So we understand the struggles, the challenges that Doug is facing, that this board is facing."
Other major items from the meeting:
- The Select Board suspends the liquor license for the Banner pub for four weeks due to ongoing safety and compliance issues
- The board approves the FY26 capital plan presented by Capital Planning Committee Chair Rich Harris
- Veterans Agent Tim White presents several warrant articles for town meeting related to veteran benefits
- The board approves adding a checkbox for veteran's support fund donations on excise tax bills
- The board completes Town Administrator Doug Lapp's performance review with an overall rating of 3.21 out of 4
- The board approves the recreation committee appointment for Molly Growth-Ong and designates recreation committee members as special municipal employees
The annual town meeting is scheduled for May 5, with the annual town election set for April 12.