WALES — Regional School Unit 4 directors have slashed proposed elementary iPad funds and raised activity fees to craft a third 2013-14 budget.
It will get a show-of-hands vote on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and a referendum at the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
The first school budget failed in referendum in June, the second in July.
The new proposed budget, $17.65 million, includes a $69,000 cut in the technology budget and relies on $15,000 in new revenue from activity fees, Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said.
Hodgkin said more than 150 people attended the four-hour meeting Wednesday night for feedback and discussion as the board wrestled with crafting a new budget.
The district had proposed giving iPads to pupils in kindergarten to grade three, but the new cut leaves only 25 percent of that funding intact, Hodgkin said. If the budget passes, the technology committee would regroup to figure out which grades would get computers.
The activity fee increase would affect middle school and high school students. High school students already pay $25 per sport or co-curricular activity. The new amount would be $50 with a $100 cap for the year.
At the middle school, students would pay a new fee of $25 per sport or activity with a $50 cap.
The district plans to draw up a list of activities for which there would be no charge, Hodgkin said. He anticipates waiving or reducing fees in some situations of financial need.
Cuts to sports were discussed but not considered by the board.
More information about the potential impact to the tax rates in Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales is anticipated Thursday afternoon.
Under the new proposed budget, the anticipated increases in tax rates in the three RSU 4 towns is $1.21 in Sabattus, 61 cents in Litchfield and $1.04 in Wales.
kskelton@sunjournal.com
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