FARMINGTON — More than 200 voters from Regional School Unit 9 turned out Monday night to set a $32.25 million budget for 2015-16.
The proposal will now go to a yes or no referendum to validate the proposal on Tuesday, June 9, in each of the 10 towns in the district. The kindergarten through grade 12 spending package represents a 3.9 percent increase, or $1.2 million, from the current budget.
Voters also approved a $385,490 adult education budget that reflects a $13,379 increase from the current budget.
Superintendent Tom Ward said the district is doing the best it can to meet the minimal needs of the kids and try not to overburden the taxpayers. The board cut $1.5 million in needs from the budget, he said.
Last year, the district spent $8,751 per student, which put the district at the bottom of the state for spending on students, he said.
Only one article drew no opposition, and that was one to see what sum RSU 9 would authorize for all other expenditures. The recommendation was zero. There was some opposition voiced to all of the other articles, though it wasn’t enough to overrule the “ayes.”
Voters approved 167-34 by written ballot to raise and appropriate $2.3 million in additional local funds, which exceeds the state’s essential programs and services funding model by $1.79 million. According to the board, the state’s funding model does not fully support all of the necessary costs of a comprehensive kindergarten through grade 12 educational program. Those include athletics/co-curricular program costs, transportation for rural school systems and athletics/co-curricular programs, special education costs and the cost of maintaining class sizes smaller than are recognized by the state’s formula.
Farmington resident Elaine Graham asked why the board cannot think of the effect the increases have on older residents and others on fixed incomes. The town of Farmington has a heavy share of the budget, and the community cannot continue to support constant increases in the school budget, she said.
That drew applause from some members of the audience.
Voters also approved an article that would give the RSU 9 board discretion over any additional funding over the anticipated amount that the state could give to school districts to offset local tax assessments. Some of the money could be used to offset the taxes from the proposed budget and for that of next year, if directors see fit.
In addition to budget votes, Director Ross Clair of Chesterville presented longtime board member and Chairman of the Board Mark Prentiss of Industry an engraved wooden-handled cant hook from directors. The money for the gift did not come out of the budget, Ward said.
Prentiss has served on the school board for more than a decade.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
Voting times for RSU 9 towns on Tuesday, June 9:
Chesterville: 1 to 6 p.m., Town Office
Farmington: 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Town Office
Industry: 2 to 8 p.m., Town Office
New Sharon: 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Town Office
New Vineyard: 3 to 8 p.m., Smith Hall
Temple: 7 to 11 a.m., Town Hall
Starks: 2 to 8 p.m., Community Center
Vienna: 1 to 6 p.m., Fire Station
Weld: 4 to 8 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Town Office
Wilton: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Town Office
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