HOULTON, Maine — Voters from RSU 29 will have an opportunity to vote on the proposed $13.3 million school budget tonight at the Houlton Community Arts Center (high school auditorium) at 6 p.m.
At $13,331,159, the proposed budget is $175,887 or 1.34 percent over last year’s figure. Superintendent Ellen Schneider said the district is targeted to receive more money from the state in the 2017-18 school year, but will have to come up with more local funds to receive that state money.
The proposed required local share for RSU 29 is $3,276,761, with the state kicking in $9,173,398. Because the district’s expenses are more than these two figures combined, an additional local amount of $200,000 is needed to balance the budget.
Last year, the district needed $111,982 in additional local funds, while in 2015-16 that amount was $158,117.
The increase to each town that comprises RSU 29 also varies. Monticello will see the largest percent increase at 3.5 percent. The town’s share of the budget is $400,788, which is an increase of $13,537.
Houlton’s share of the budget is $2,608,875, which is an increase of $66,676 (2.62 percent); Littleton’s share is $480,195, up $8,077 (1.71 percent); and Hammond’s share is $70,100, an increase of $1,943 (2.85 percent).
