TURNER — The proposed $24.28 million budget for Turner, Greene and Leeds schools is a “good, solid, responsible” spending plan, RSU 52 Superintendent Henry Aliberti said Wednesday.

It’s 3.2 percent more than the current budget. If approved by voters this month, annual taxes for a $100,000 home would go up $36 in Leeds, $34 in Greene and $29 in Turner.

Residents in each town will vote on the budget from 1 to 7 p.m. May 20.

During a budget hearing Tuesday night, residents voted 31-0 in favor without asking any questions, Aliberti said.

“That’s super,” Aliberti said. “It’s an indication of how well the board processed the budget this year, how much information we were able to get out to the community about the budget.”

Many people watch meetings on the local cable channel, he said.

He said likes that the budget would maintain existing services and create a new position to improve math learning at Leavitt Area High School.

The budget funds an additional math teacher to continue efforts at the Tripp Middle School in Turner to boost math skills, which “is paying off,” Aliberti said. “We have a strong group of students coming out of the middle school that has achieved Algebra I.”

Of this year’s 159 eighth-graders, 45 are expected to complete Algebra I, Aliberti said.

“The new position will give them a leg up in math,” he said. “It’s just super the board is supporting that. It’s not often we can put in that kind of unique program that can help kids.”

Also in the budget is money for a no-cost energy audit. Siemens of Scarborough will review buildings and give recommendations on how the district can save money with energy upgrades, something that has been done by other districts, including Auburn, and has saved money.

This year, no extra money was needed for health insurance. “We had no increase this year,” Aliberti said. “It’s a tribute to our employees. Your costs are based on claims.”

Staffers received raises of 2.5 percent, he said.

What’s not in the budget that he’d like to see, Aliberti said, is more social worker services for students.

Overall district enrollment is down by 27 students. Enrollment was 2,031 in 2011-12, and 2,004 in 2012-13.

Statistics from the Maine Department of Education show that when it comes to per pupil spending, Turner-Greene-Leeds taxpayers are spending just under the state average, $11,406 per student compared to $11,583 per pupil statewide.

The district’s graduation rate for students who complete high school in four years is 77.5 percent, compared to the state average of 83.8 percent.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

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