Preston town, school budgets go to May 23 referendum
May 10—PRESTON — The proposed 2024-25 school and town government budgets will go to referendum without changes, residents decided during a town meeting Thursday.
The referendum will be Thursday, May 23, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Preston Plains Middle School. Combined town, school, capital improvements and debt service budgets total $21.1 million.
The final tax rate will not be set until after the budgets are approved at referendum, but budget documents project the tax rate for next year at 23.37 mills, up by 0.5 mills if both proposed budgets are approved.
Most speakers at Thursday's town meeting supported the proposed school budget, totaling $15,031,536. Some speakers complained that that Board of Finance had cut 1%, $151,083, from the school budget even though speakers had supported the budget at the public hearing prior to the board vote.
Resident William Legler said he was concerned about rising school budgets over the past five years. He said Preston's school budget is $4 million higher than Lisbon's, a similar size town.
Resident Kayla Thompson urged support for the school budget. She reminded the approximately 40 residents at the town meeting that any cut would hit the elementary and middle schools, as high school tuitions are set.
"I don't think there's any cut that would mean more than a few dollars in taxes," Thompson said, "and it would be devastating to the kids."
The proposed town government budget of $5,414,306 drew more debate, especially concerning a plan to boost the first selectwoman's salary by 25% based on a recent comparative salaries study. Residents had approved a 10% increase for the position last year.
The increase would raise the salary for current First Selectwoman Sandra Allyn-Gauthier from $95,763 to $120,436. The two selectmen would have a 4% increase to $8,230 each. The increase would bring the position to the mid-range of the municipal CEOs, town and school Finance Director Cindy Varricchio said.
Supporters said Allyn-Gauthier serves multiple functions in the small town, including grant writer and human resources director. They also praised her response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"She has brought far more worth her weight in gold in grant writing," Thompson said. "She's also the grant writer, because when we cut the budget last year, that is a position that was gone."
Legler countered that the raise is for the position, not the person currently in the seat.
"Honestly, Sandra is worth every nickel," Legler said. "However, this is for the position. I don't have a problem paying her that money. I may have a problem paying the next dunderhead that money. Because you're putting a salary of $120,000 to the first selectman."
Andy Bilodeau called a 25% increase in one year "a hell-of-a-lot of money. I don't know of any people who get that unless they leave their current position and go to another town, or corporate America."
Bilodeau moved to cut the town government budget by 1%. Resident Andy Depta seconded the motion. The two were the only ones voting in favor, as the motion died overwhelmingly.
