FARMINGTON — The RSU 9 board presented the first view of the 2012-13 budget Tuesday night and the plan for a proposed merger with the town of Starks.
At the public hearing at Mt. Blue Middle School, Superintendent Michael Cormier suggested that bringing Starks in as a district member will be a “win-win for everybody.”
Starks board member Jennifer Hebert sat with RSU 9 directors, and fellow directors Paul Frederic and Ernie Hilton also attended.
RSU 9 has adopted a weighted voting system, with towns in the district having representation based on population. Starks is slightly larger than Weld.
“Adding Starks to the district will bring $400,000 to the RSU 9 budget,” Cormier said.
If Starks voters approve joining RSU 9 on Tuesday, April 17, RSU 9 voters will go to the polls in their towns to cast ballots for the option on April 24.
RSU 9 towns include Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton.
The board continued its regularly scheduled meeting with an overview of 2011-12 costs and proposed increases and decreases. Last year’s $25.3 million budget could increase by $1 million, Cormier said.
Most increases represent a shift in revenue from several funding streams and fixed costs to run the district. More than 78 percent of the budget is spent on salaries and benefits.
A big decrease, Cormier noted, was the $300,000 the state pays as Medicaid/MaineCare reimbursement. Other decreases were staffing positions funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Those positions can continue if taxpayers want to pay for them.
All insurance and fuel charges are a big part of the budget, Cormier said.
“Some days, when I come into town, gas is one price,” he said. “When I go home, it’s another price.”
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