Voters in MSAD 52 will decide Thursday whether to approve a $32.4 million budget for 2023-24.
They approved the proposed $32.4 million spending plan for the coming year with no amendments at the district budget meeting on May 4. It is a 7.3% increase from the current $30.2 million budget.
For a property valued at $200,000, residents of Greene will pay roughly $208 more in school tax; residents of Leeds, $400; and residents of Turner, $240. The increase by town is determined by state property valuations.
The budget includes a school resource officer contracted from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office for $114,000. That includes the officer, a cruiser and necessary equipment.
Superintendent Cari Medd said a resource officer would give the district more help to respond to emergency situations.
Two of three instructional coaches added last year using federal pandemic relief aid are in the new budget. The third will be funded by federal aid for one more year, when it is set to end.
The budget also includes four education technicians, one special education teacher at Turner Primary School and three grant-funded special education secretaries.
The joint director of transportation and facilities position will be split into two administrative positions. By eliminating a transit supervisor position, administrators say the split will result in an additional cost of $33,700.
Two positions from the high school were cut, a world language teacher and an English teacher. The English teacher will be laid off and the world language position is vacant, according to Medd.
Town offices in Greene, Leeds and Turner will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. for voting.
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