DIXFIELD — Residents in Regional School Unit 10 will have two opportunities this week to learn about the proposed 2016-17 budget.
Public hearings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru and at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Buckfield Junior-Senior High School in Buckfield.
The $38.23 million budget is 4.2 percent more than this fiscal year, which ends June 30. Under the proposal, Byron would pay $234 less and Hanover about $8,600 less.
Roxbury would pay $195,300 more because of the new wind turbine development in that town.
Increases for other district towns are:
• Buckfield, $41,500;
• Canton, $9,600;
• Carthage, $12,150;
• Dixfield, $49,850;
• Hartford, $25,300;
• Mexico, $88,000;
• Peru, $18,600;
• Rumford, $7,800; and
• Sumner, $35,300.
If substantial cuts are made to the budget, one or more buildings must be closed, Superintendent Craig King said. An ad hoc Buildings and Grounds Committee has been meeting for more than a year to survey all district buildings and to make recommendations on whether to close any.
A decision has been deferred because Canton, Carthage, Peru and Dixfield have been pursuing the possibility of withdrawing from the district.
A district budget meeting and vote will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 25 at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford. The amount approved will be voted on again in each of the 12 towns on June 14.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
