Further Changes to Education Subsidies

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 94
POLICY CODE: DB

TO: Superintendents of Schools
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: March 19, 2010
SUBJECT: Further Changes to Education Subsidies

Below please find the link to a new spreadsheet showing subsidy information for all units based on the latest addition of $5 million in General Purpose Aid for Local Schools (GPA), proposed by Governor John Baldacci and approved in concept this week by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee. Combined with the previous $20 million restoration, the budget under consideration by the Legislature now includes $25 million more for GPA than it did on February 2, 2010, when the original spreadsheet was made available. These subsidy amounts for the FY2010-11 year do not represent final action of the 124th Legislature.

Please note these changes are for the FY2010-11 year and supersede two previous notices of subsidy figures for FY2010-11. No new changes are proposed in education funding for the current fiscal year, FY2009-10.

You can find the spreadsheet on the EPS website:

http://www.maine.gov/education/data/eps/epsmenu.htm

Click on the FY 2010-11 Funding link.

We anticipate mailing revised ED-279 subsidy printouts by early next week.

As you explain the current financial picture to your school boards and the public, you may find the graphics on the finances page of our website useful:

http://www.maine.gov/education/finances/

For additional questions regarding these estimates, please contact Jim Rier, Director of School Finance and Operations, at 207-624-6790 or by email to jim.rier@maine.gov.