School budget deserves approval

For the second consecutive year, the school budget before the Baldwin community stays within the tax cap, maintains the current level of staffing and keeps programs intact. We encourage residents to vote “yes” for it on Tuesday.

The spending plan, which the Board of Education adopted in March, totals $124.4 million, an increase of $2.4 million over the current budget. The district’s tax levy — the amount of money it can raise through taxes — would increase 1.39 percent. In a time when school district budgets across the state continue to tighten, this one keeps taxpayers in mind, while also focusing on students and educational opportunities: 77 percent of spending is devoted to programs. It adds college-credit courses for high school students and expands the district’s already impressive Career Academies program to include a focus on new media.

Baldwin schools play a vital role in uniting the community while also providing an excellent education to its children. This spending plan is good for students and is fiscally prudent for taxpayers, and we offer it our wholehearted support.