PARIS – Voters approved the proposed School Administrative District 17 budget of $39.69 million at a district meeting Thursday night. It’s 1.73 percent more than last year.
For the first time, they voted to allow the district to spend $1.1 million more than required by the Essential Programs and Services funding model. The vote was 79-6.
Voters must validate the budget in a referendum at their town polls Tuesday, June 13. That vote will be a simple “yes” or “no.”
If voters turn down the budget then, the process begins again until a budget is approved.
About 80 voters gathered at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Forum and some expressed concern over balancing of the needs of schools and the impact on taxpayers.
The vote to spend above the EPS recommendation was a written ballot. It means the district will raise and appropriate, in addition to local funds, $1.86 million. It exceeds the EPS recommendation by $1.1 million.
Voters also agreed to authorize the board of directors to split any state subsidies that are received after the state budget is enacted to pay for school needs and to reduce the impact on taxpayers.
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