CARIBOU, Maine — A public referendum vote has made RSU 39’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year official.
On Tuesday, residents of Caribou and Stockholm voted overwhelmingly in favor of the $19.8 million budget, with 97 people from Caribou voting “yes” and 33 voting “no.” In Stockholm, 22 supported the budget while four voted “no.”
The budget had been previously passed by around a dozen RSU 39 residents who attended a public budget meeting on May 26.
As passed, the $19,814,324 buget marks an increase of $378 over last year’s $19,814,702. During the district budget meeting, superintendent Tim Doak attributed the flat budget to funding the district has received throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The budget also includes a supplementary warrant that will allow RSU 39 to use $249,578.67 in state funds, which would otherwise have come from local tax commitment, if the Maine Legislature passes Gov. Janet Mills’ proposed school funding of 55 percent.
