Maine High School Considers Cutting Sports To Save Money

In an effort to avoid a repeat of last year, when it took four referendum votes to approve a budget, Biddeford Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray was asked to create several versions of the budget, including one that would not raise the current tax rate.

At Tuesday night’s school committee meeting, Ray presented the zero-increase budget, which at $31.4 million would necessitate about $1.83 million in cuts, including the elimination of stipends for nine seventh-grade team coaches and five freshmen team coaches that would in total save $31,960.

Another proposal under consideration that would cut about $1 million from the current budget would increase the mil rate by 35 cents, but wouldn’t affect the stipends.

A special school committee meeting to discuss the budget will take place tonight at 7 o’clock at the middle school, where the school committee will be vote on which budget proposal to send to the council. Walton encourages Biddeford residents to voice their opinions. If the no-tax-increase plan were to pass, Walton said it would mean the  eradication of those 14 coaches and 12 programs altogether.

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