FARMINGTON — RSU 9 voters will consider a proposed $29.74 million budget for 2013-14 at 7 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Blue High School gym.
Voters will also consider a proposed $471,031 adult education budget with $236,983 of it as the local share.
The articles are open to allow voters to change the amounts of money listed in each.
The adult education budget represents an increase of $133,005 over the current budget. Of the amount, $100,000 is a one-time expense to move the adult education program to the Mt. Blue High School and Foster Career and Technical Education Center at 129 Seamon Road. The district currently pays $30,000 a year to rent space for the program.
The proposed $29.74 million school budget reflects an increase of 2.9 percent, or $840,660, more than the current budget. The package includes teacher retirement costs Gov. Paul LePage proposes to shift from the state to school districts. Those costs exceed $310,000 for the district.
The Legislature has not made a decision on whether to shift some of those costs to local taxpayers. If a decision is made before the district vote Thursday, the money for retirement could be removed by voters. Then the proposed spending plan would be $29.43 million, a 1.8 percent increase, or $526,612 more than the current budget.
The proposal keeps all services and staffing in place and adds a half-time principal to the Mallett School in Farmington. The latter position was added due to there currently being 436 students in prekindergarten through third grade and attendance projected to increase to about 450 next year. The state’s recommended funding model is 305 students per administrator up to grade eight.
The cost of the half-time position is $46,859. Of that, $32,000 is for wages and $14,859 is for benefits.
A validation referendum will be held June 11 at each district town’s polling place. It will include a second question asking voters if they want to continue the practice of holding two votes on the budget.
dperry@sunjournal.com
Projected town assessments for RSU 9 school and adult education budgets:
* Chesterville: $791,121.96
* Farmington: $3.99 million
* Industry: $682,288.06
* New Sharon: $879,850.01
* New Vineyard: $572,579.98
* Starks: $277,361.93
* Temple: $384,196.80
* Vienna: $568,646.23
* Weld: $344,714.96
* Wilton: $2.59 million
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