TURNER — Maine School Administrative District 52 is holding its annual budget meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Leavitt Area High School, where residents of Greene, Leeds and Turner will have the opportunity to vote on 19 articles comprising the proposed $30.3 million budget.
Residents will have the ability to approve or amend funding totals for each article.
The proposed spending plan for the upcoming school year would be a 7.31% increase from the current $28.3 million budget, primarily due to the addition of staff members, as well as rising costs related to wages, benefits and fuel.
Residents of Leeds will see a 4.5% increase in their school tax under the proposed budget, 3.18% rise for Greene residents and 1.92% for Turner residents.
Of the $2 million increase, $766,000 is for facilities maintenance, $441,000 is for regular instruction and $396,000 is for special education.
The district will save over $70,000 under “all other expenditures” largely because food service is not requesting any local funds for support. Beginning in the upcoming school year, the state will fully fund school meals for students.
The district will add 11 full-time staff members, while eliminating three.
Among the proposed staff additions are three instructional coaches, a districtwide school psychologist, and a teacher for a gifted and talented program. The instructional coaches will help address learning gaps and behavior at Greene Central School, Leeds Central School and Tripp Middle School.
The district has also set aside $20,500 to lease purchase a new bulk gasoline tank and $58,000 to receive matching funds of $174,000 for security and facilities improvements.
The budget referendum will take place on May 19. Residents should visit their respective town offices between 1-7 p.m. to vote.
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