HODGDON, Maine — By more than a three-to-one margin, voters in the SAD 70 district approved a $6.5 million budget for the 2014-15 school year.
Only 223 voters cast ballots in last Tuesday’s referendum. Of that figure, 174 supported the district’s spending plan, while 49 were opposed.
At $6,502,989, the budget for the 2014-15 school year represents an increase of $121,000 over last year’s figure. These numbers are different from what the Houlton Pioneer Times reported following the April board meeting, because the final figures from the state were slightly different from what the district originally reported.
The district will receive $3,317,366 from the state next year, but must come up with $1,791,272 in required local dollars to receive that funding.
However, because SAD 70’s budget is higher than what the state says it should pay for “Essential Programs and Services,” the district will need to raise additional local dollars to balance its budget. That additional local total amounts to $845,351 (an increase of $58,896 over last year’s figure).
The district plans to use a carryover of $350,000 to help reduce the tax impact. Last year, the district’s carryover was $400,000. Revenue from tuition students is up $14,000 to $100,000, but the district is seeing a big hit to its E-rate revenue ($30,000, which is a decrease of $73,100 from last year.)
How the local share of the total budget will be divided among the communities that make up SAD 70, which is based on state valuation for each town, and the average number of students from each community is as follows:
• Amity (34 students) — $146,951 (an increase of $5,960 over last year).
• Cary (20 students) — $121,542 (up $1,572).
• Haynesville (16 students) — $98,491 (an increase of $2,104).
• Hodgdon (192 students) — $604,828 (up $5,488).
• Linneus (130 students) — $656,955 (an increase of $18,138).
• Ludlow (40 students) — $244,918 (up $5,490).
• New Limerick (31 students) — $762,939 (an increase of $52,514).
