PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — On Tuesday, May 1, voters in Maine School Administrative District 1 will be asked to approve a $24.7 million budget that will come with a local tax increase ranging from 2.9 percent to 7.8 percent across the five member municipalities.
The $24.7 million 2018-2019 budget includes $8.8 million from local property taxes.
Partly due to changes in the state’s real estate valuations, Presque Isle taxpayers would see a 2.9 percent increase from the school budget. Castle Hill and Chapman’s portion of the local tax levy would increase 4.5 percent, Mapleton’s by 7.8 percent and Westfield’s by 6.5 percent.
The budget was approved in its first round at the district budget meeting April 11 and now has to be approved by voters at the polls.
In most years past, the budget referendum has been held during June elections. Last year MSAD 1 moved the vote to May, after it took three referendum votes and multiple budget changes during the summer of 2016 to pass the 2016-2017 budget, said Clint Deschene, MSAD 1 assistant superintendent for business.
“The May vote is the same as last year and it seemed to be well received by all,” Deschene said.
“The Finance Committee felt it best to adopt a timeline that would allow at least two validation votes before the beginning of next fiscal year,” which begins July 1, he said. “If the May vote doesn’t pass it allows us to use the June date as a second option. If we wait for a first vote in June, and it doesn’t pass, it will be into the next fiscal year.”
Polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Presque Isle Community Center and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the other four towns.
