According to recently released figures from the state Department of Education, many districts are expected to get a boost in state funding next year.
The estimates are based on the budget proposal from Gov. Janet Mills, which would add more than $41 million in general purpose education funding next year.
Steve Bailey, executive director of the Maine School Management Association, says he’s encouraged that the new budget would ease the required tax rate that local towns will have to pay.
“We’re hoping that the mill rate reduction will also help ease the burden on local taxpayers,” he says.
Bailey says his organization hasn’t analyzed the changes for every district in the state yet. But he says early feedback has largely been positive, and that many districts, including Portland, Bangor and Augusta, are projected to get a boost.
The school funding numbers could be altered over the next few months as the Legislature weighs in with its own priorities.
