LIMESTONE, Maine — A vote to allow RSU 39 to expend $55,000 from Limestone’s Reserve Fund to reduce the town’s 2015 to 2016 tax assessment passed with 30 residents voting “yes” and only five voting against it.
The vote was held in the Limestone Community School auditorium last Wednesday.
RSU 39 board member Ron Willey made a motion to have Pat St. Peter serve as moderator and vote monitor. All were in favor of the motion.
“We’re here today to vote on a total of $55,000 that comes in a reserve account for the Limestone School District to pare down the share of the school budget,” said Superintendent Timothy Doak. “This number was not determined until we had the budget referendum for RSU District 39.”
Doak answered a question from the audience regarding Caribou’s involvement with the Limestone education budget.
“Back in 2009 when RSU 39 was created, the communities of Stockholm, Caribou and Limestone had to pool all of their assets together and in doing so the schools all had a reserve they could access. Limestone’s is around $697,000 and Caribou’s is about $100,000. This will be the third time Limestone has dipped into that money to help pare down their costs. That money has not been used by any other school district or community school.”
Selectperson Melissa Devoe made a motion to vote by secret ballot. All RSU 39 Board Members, with the exception of Clifford Rhome of Limestone, were in favor of voting via secret ballot.
Community members lined up to the stage to cast their secret votes. Moderator St. Peter announced that the article passed by a vote of 30-5 and adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:15 pm.
