JAY — About 50 residents in Regional School Unit 73 approved an $18.65 million budget for 2015-16 on Tuesday.
They also approved $275,000 for an elevator at Spruce Mountain High School, $108,000 for new bleachers at Griffin Field at the high school and $240,824 for adult education.
The three expenditures will go before voters at referendums in Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls on April 28.
The school budget is $240,000 less than this year but, if approved, would raise assessments by $11,600 in Jay, $99,500 in Livermore and $76,600 in Livermore Falls because the district expects to receive less state aid, Superintendent Kenneth Healey said.
The budget eliminates funding for six positions held by teachers who are expected to retire at the end of this school year. Their duties would be redistributed.
Regarding the elevator, Healey said the school needs handicap accessibility. A lift is used now.
He said the new bleachers will provide handicap accessibility. The actual cost will be closer to $160,000 for installation of 850 home bleachers and 350 visitor bleachers, he said. The school board will look at using a lease-purchase agreement to make up the difference in cost.
Each of the three towns will contribute $40,000 toward adult education, and the difference will be drawn from subsidies and grants.
The school board will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at the Central Office in Livermore Falls.
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