BANGOR - The city's annual subsidy to three private schools may bein jeopardy.
For the first time in many years, funding for All Saints CatholicSchool, Bangor Christian School and John Bapst Memorial High Schoolhasn't been included in Bangor City Manager Ed Barrett's recommendedbudget.
The city's finance director explained earlier this week that thecuts are forced by a tight budget, which is 'wholly attributable tothe effects of LD 1,' the new state law that caps the amount of taxesto be raised for municipal services.
'In order to comply with the requirements of LD 1, we had to cut asignificant amount of funds from the proposed budget beforerecommending it to the council,' said Finance Director Debbie Cyr.
The private schools have requested a total of $97,800 for 2006.The bulk of the money would go to All Saints, which uses itscontribution for busing pupils to and from St. Mary's (pre-kindergarten to fourth grade) and St. John's (fifth grade to eighthgrade). John Bapst puts its allotment toward passes for the city bus,while Bangor Christian School (pre-kindergarten to 12th grade) spendsits subsidy for co-curricular activities such as field trips.
Also making a dent in Bangor's finances is the state's recentdecision to stop reimbursing communities' private school subsidiesbeginning July 1, said Cyr. The state now absorbs 21 percent of thecity's expenses.
City councilors will discuss private school funding during ameeting beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 31. A decision likely won'tbe made until June, Cyr said.
Funding for private schools is always 'a hot topic,' she said. Sherecalled that, in the 1990s, an attempt to eliminate the city'scontribution was forestalled by a huge public outcry.
'It's one of those [decisions] that's hard,' she said, noting thatcouncilors believe it's important to support education. 'But to usetaxpayer money for it always [leads to] a discussion, especiallysince we raise a significant amount of taxes to support our own[public] schools.'
City Councilor Dan Tremble predicted an uphill battle for theprivate schools. 'Any group will have a hard time getting money backin the budget,' he said. 'There's not a lot of extra money unless wewant to raise taxes.'
Under LD 1, the city possibly could raise taxes above the cap butonly by getting voter approval in a citywide referendum.
Tremble said he would have preferred to see the subsidy phased outinstead of eliminated outright, 'if that's the direction we want togo.'
Although LD 1 has restricted municipal spending, it resulted in a$2 million increase in state aid for education for Bangor, he pointedout.
The city has received a number of e-mails and phone calls, almostall in favor of keeping the private school subsidy, Cyr said.
According to some arguments, parents of Bangor children who attendprivate schools are taxpayers and thus are entitled to services.Supporters also contend that the city saves money when childrenattend private school.
But Cyr said Superintendent Robert Ervin has told her the costs ofabsorbing those students would be 'minimal.'
Marcia Diamond, principal at All Saints, said parents also havesafety concerns. Sidewalks aren't always available and aren't alwaysplowed, making it difficult for elementary school pupils withinwalking distance. Also, registered sex offenders live in the vicinityof the schools.
Bangor Christian contributes daily to the city's economy bybringing people to Bangor through the school's academic and sportsprograms, said Principal Jim Chasse. Without the funding, the schoolmay have to cut teachers and programs or raise tuition, he said.
Landis Green, headmaster at John Bapst, said because the city'sfunding is limited to Bangor students, it affects only a smallpercentage of the school's enrollment which comes from nearly 50communities in a 60-mile radius.
Bangor council Chairman Frank Farrington said he would listencarefully to the arguments presented Tuesday. 'I've got to justifyhaving all taxpayers pay for something that's a choice,' he said. 'Weprovide a very good education - I'd stack up our school system withany place in the country. But it's very important that people have achoice. I'd defend that too.'
