Residents turned out Tuesday to show their support for school budgets in the majority of communities as the RSU 29, RSU 50 and SAD 70 budgets all met with voter approval at the polls.
RSU 29’s $13.2 million budget met with overwhelming approval by voters as it passed 173 to 61 overall in the member communities. A breakdown by town reveals: Houlton, 135 in favor and 48 opposed; Littleton, 18 in favor and five opposed; Hammond, six in favor and none opposed; and Monticello, 14 in favor and eight opposed.
As presented, the total budget of $13,248,772 represents a 0.71 percent increase over the current budget. 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.
Voters in SAD 70, which includes the communities of Hodgdon, Linneus, New Limerick, Ludlow, Amity and Haynesville, approved that district’s $$6.5 million budget by an overall vote of 184 to 82.
By community, the results are: Hodgdon, 23-7; Linneus, 19-7; New Limerick, 47-19; Ludlow, 77-49; Amity, 12-0; and Haynesville, 6-0.
The 2017-18 budget of $6,507,340 is a decrease of $24,357 (0.37 percent) from the current spending plan, according to Superintendent Scott Richardson. That reduction, however, does not mean local municipalities will necessarily see a decrease in their local share.
According to Richardson, New Limerick will be hit the hardest with an increase of $20,934; while Hodgdon will likely see an increase of $4,416; and Haynesville will be up $1,756; Amity, up $454; and Ludlow, up $167. Because of changes to their state valuation, Linneus will see a reduction of $927.
RSU 50, which includes the communities of Crystal, Dyer Brook, Hersey, Island Falls, Merrill, Moro, Mount Chase, Oakfield, Patten, Sherman, Smyrna and Stacyville, approved a nearly $9.8 million budget by a total vote of 249 in favor and 141 opposed.
All towns approved the budget except for Stacyville which opposed the budget 20 to 11 and Moro, where the vote was 2-2.
A breakdown of the remaining votes in favor by individual towns is: Crystal, 10-3; Dyer Brook, 25-7; Hersey, 3-0; Island Falls, 27-22; Merrill, 21-11; Mount Chase, 13-12; Oakfield, 38-10; Patten, 55-26; Sherman, 29-22; Smyrna, 15-6.
Next year’s budget of $9,768,095, represents an increase of $148,650 (1.55 percent) over the current spending plan for RSU 50.
Danforth residents will vote on the East Grand school budget Monday, June 19, at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
