Edgecomb residents at a 2020-21 budget meeting March 9 were outspoken about rising school costs, according to information the board provided after the meeting.

The discussion took place after a brief business meeting during which selectmen approved Cory Mullins’ appointment as an alternate to the planning board. He will serve through June 30, 2021.

Also at the business meeting, Selectman Mike Smith reported on the cost to repair one of the windows in the town hall. Replacing the whole unit could cost $4,200 because it is a custom unit; replacing the sash would cost $1,800.

Smith also suggested the $20,000-plus raised from the sale of the Lallis property might be put into escrow for “unforeseen” expenses. As an example, Smith pointed out that the town office’s furnace is old and will need to be replaced. He proposed establishing the fund so that problems could be repaired quickly and residents would not have to vote to allocate funds in an emergency.

Fire Chief Roy Potter provided selectmen with copies of a draft ordinance which will allow the fire department to be reimbursed for calls to traffic accidents. Due to timing, this will be done as an addendum to the town warrant so residents can vote on it this year.

After a brief break, the budget committee met with residents for a preliminary discussion of the 2020-21 budget. Chair Jack Brennan explained the committee met through winter and final deliberations occur in March because the budget must go to the printer at the end of March to be ready by the annual meeting on Saturday, May 16.

Brennan explained that to avoid an increase in this year’s budget, departments were asked to look at ways to create income. Examples he gave were the fire department recovering costs from traffic accidents and a pre-pay program at the school. Brennan also strongly encouraged residents to read the budget before coming to the town meeting.

Selectman Jack Sarmanian said the board had been questioning how to accomplish “all we need to do.” Sarmanian spoke about creating a sustainable budget for the town beyond the current year and 20 years into the future.

“The challenge is finding ways to maintain viability,” Selectman Ted Hugger added. “We need to be looking at the longer term and can’t just keep kicking the can down the road.”

Smith noted the town office was one of the subjects discussed at a forum. He said a grant might fund designs for needed renovations.

Sarmanian said there are budget items the town can’t control, including the county tax he said increased by $20,000 over 2019’s, and the school, which continues to be a large portion of the town budget.

One resident asked if the town has looked at combining resources or services with other towns on the peninsula. Smith responded that the selectmen met with the town managers for Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor as a first step in a general discussion about sharing costs.

A contentious conversation about the school budget took up the lion’s share of the discussion and residents were not shy about registering their disapproval of the increasing amounts, with one resident pointing out that the administrative expense far exceeds the cost to educate a child. Another resident pointed out that the school is always highly rated.

One resident urged for a committee with a deadline of 2021-22 to look into closing Edgecomb Eddy School.

“Are there any schools that break even,”  Smith asked. “Education is an investment. The school board members are the ones who should hear this,” he reminded the residents.

A resident complained taxes were high due to the costs for the school and said the town is being used by people who send their children to Edgecomb for an education, but won’t move there due to the taxes.

Questions were raised about creating a warrant article to address some of the concerns residents raised. Town Clerk Claudia Coffin said a petition signed by more than 70 registered voters in Edgecomb would be needed for a warrant article.

Ending the discussion, Brennan asked residents to keep future discussions of the budget “civil, purposeful and to make the town the best place it can be.”

There will be a presentation of the final budget proposal for the public at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 30 at the town hall.