HODGDON, Maine — A small group of just 20 people, including nine school board members, approved a $6.6 million budget for SAD 70 Thursday evening.
“I have to say this is probably the lowest attendance (at a budget meeting) that I have seen since I have been superintendent,” SAD 70 Superintendent Scott Richardson said in his opening remarks.
At $6,636,490, the 2019-20 budget is an increase of $156,331 or 2.4 percent over last year’s spending plan. Because of an increase in state funding, however, the actual impact to most taxpayers will be less than the current budget.
The district will receive $3,210,255 from the state as part of the Essential Programs and Services allocation. SAD 70 also will receive $25,271 in the form of a Regional Efficiency Assistance stipend thanks to the collaborative bus garage the district uses with RSU 29, RSU 50 and SAD 14.
In order to get those funds, the district needs to raise $1,888,519 for its local share of the budget. That figure is up $35,865 from last year. Because the district spends more than the state EPS model, an additional $516,448 in local tax dollars needs to be raised to balance the budget. The district also plans to use $362,382 from its carry forward account to help reduce the tax burden.
“Over the last 12 years, our increases to the towns has averaged $28,814,” Richardson said. “That is a percent increase of 0.43 percent. We have tried to keep our budget in line. This year, there is a small decrease to the towns and we did not have to cut any areas to balance the budget as we normally have to do.”
As a whole, the tax impact to the six communities that make up SAD 70 will be a decrease of $4,427. The communities of Amity, Hodgdon, Linneus and Ludlow will all see their share of the budget decrease due to changes in the state valuation.
New Limerick, however, will see its share of the budget increase by $50,291.
Richardson added that the proposed budget maintains current staffing.
“We did not have to cut any programs,” he said. Our goal is to keep any increases to a minimum and I feel this budget does that.”
