School Funding Outlook

The purpose of this page is to provide updates on the outlook for state subsidy to K-12 school systems. On November 20, 2009, Governor Baldacci issued a curtailment order that includes $38 million in district-level reductions in local education education subsidies for the current (FY 2009-10) year. This requires further legislative action before going into effect.

The chart and spreadsheet below show projected education subsidies based on the curtailment, and a proposed targeted $35 million reduction for FY 2011. This target is subject to change upward or downward and any change in FY 2011 subsidy must go to the Legislature.

Projections for FY2012 and FY2013 are necessarily preliminary and assume only maintenance of the new base level of subsidy, but it is too early to determine what action the Governor and Legislature will take, and what state revenues will be in those years.

Click on either of the images below to view or download a larger, printer-friendly version.

Education Budget Reduction Targets (Informational Letter #37, October 13, 2009)

Update: Financial Strategies in Difficult Times (Informational Letter #31, September 23, 2009)

Statewide financial indicators
Historical funding and spending information

Essential Programs and Services Funding Level information

Education funding law implementation
Detailed and technical chart prepared by Jim Rier, director of finance and operations, showing funding levels, total cost of education, funding levels since FY 2005