POLAND — The RSU 16 School Committee on Monday voted to recommend a 2013-14 budget of $19,273,655.
It’s about $54,000 more than they presented for discussion at meetings held in each of the district’s three towns earlier this month.
The committee examined three alternatives presented by Assistant Superintendent Tina Meserve for dealing with a problem in meeting a requirement for receiving federal Title I funds.
In order to qualify for Title I funds, districts must show that equal resources are being provided to all schools in the district. The problem facing RSU 16 was that the staff-to-student ratio at Minot Consolidated School was marginally higher than the ratio at Poland Community School.
The original budget proposed solving the problem by having Minot’s full-time educational technician librarian split their work between Minot and Poland.
The committee opted for a solution whereby Minot Consolidated School would retain its full-time librarian and two additional ed techs would be hired at the Poland Community School, serving in a number of classrooms.
The $19.3 million budget, if approved by voters, would have a relatively minor impact on property tax rates in Minot and Mechanic Falls — and a somewhat greater impact on Poland’s.
The total annual increase in taxes assessed on $100,000 properties would be $8.99 in Minot, $16.96 in Mechanic Falls and $45.38 in Poland, according to estimates provided by Superintendent Mike Wilhelm.
The committee also agreed to hold the district budget meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, in the Poland Regional High School auditorium. Voters will debate the merits of the budget and ultimately approve a figure for consideration at referendums in all three towns June 11.
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