LIVERMORE FALLS — The RSU 73 board Thursday approved the warrant for the district-wide budget vote, adult education costs and whether to keep open a portion of the former Livermore Falls High School.
They also approved the warrant for a referendum to be held in each member town on the budget figure acted on during the district-wide meeting.
A public hearing will begin at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, followed by the budget vote at the Adult Education Learning Center in Livermore Falls.
The referendum will be held in Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls on April 29.
Superintendent Robert Wall said at the April 8 session, he will describe the proposed 2014-15 budget of $18.86 million, which includes an increase of $230,000 over the current budget, as well as the request for nearly $300,000 for the Adult and Community Education Program. More than half of the total adult education figure is covered through grants, course fees and other revenues. The three towns pay $40,000 each for the program.
Wall will also explain the advantages and disadvantages of keeping open a significant portion of the former Spruce Mountain High School South/Livermore Falls High School for use in school sports, community sports, adult education and a myriad of other activities that are currently using the space or will be soon if the building is kept open.
The tab to keep the building open is $132,042.
The warrant for the April 8 town meeting-style vote includes 15 articles that total the complete proposed budget of $18.86 million.
Residents will have a chance to vote for the proposed figure for each, or to raise or lower those proposed figures. The final budget will be decided by a yes or no vote in the individual towns on April 29.
Among the articles are those for school administration, which increased by $45,000; regular classroom instruction, which decreased by $15,000; debt service, which decreased by $36,000; student and staff support, an increase of $69,000; other instruction including sports and other extracurricular/co-curricular activities, which increased by $94,000.
The board agreed to hold the district-wide vote at the former Livermore Falls High School campus so people can see what is happening there, and what could happen.
In addition, public tours of the facility are scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 1.
The academic wing of the former high school was closed off when its students were transferred to Spruce Mountain High School in Jay.
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