Tuesday’s an important day for local voters
To the editor:
This coming Tuesday is an important day for our surrounding communities. It is a combination Election Primary and the citizens’ chance to vote on the SAD 1 school budget.
Like many of you I am always concerned when more money is asked for by any entity. This year we have asked the citizens of Presque Isle for more tax dollars amounting to $641,388 which is an increase most directly associated with the first payment on the Community Center which is $518,750, in 2016, and will decline each year going forward.
The other city increases are some capital improvements and wage and salary items negotiated in the contracts. We have mostly been able to hold the line on other budget items from the cuts that were done in the past three years.
The second component is the County Budget which will have an increase this year of about $25,736, and is passed along to each community in Aroostook by way of a formula.
The third component of the tax bill is the SAD 1 budget. This year this will impact the SAD 1 towns with an increase of $780,584 from additional taxation. With the receipt of $474,580 in extra state revenue and other additional internal funding, this makes for a total increase of $1,007,591 from last year. Presque Isle will have the highest percentage at $531,403, then Mapleton with $150,276, Chapman $36,892, Castle Hill $29,751 and Westfield $32,263.
On June 2nd this was passed by the School Board public meeting and now is sent along to the communities for a vote.
I would urge every citizen to watch for news stories over the coming week and search out information from the SAD 1 website, www.SAD1.org, to become educated on the proposals. One new item is the all-day kindergarten and this alone is the largest single item making up the increase in the budget.
My purpose is to provide some notice that changes are proposed and that you have a duty to consider them. Most importantly you have a right to vote on them and express your desires.
Finally, I hope you will take the time to vote on Tuesday, June 14th to help decide the next school budget, and make a selection in the Primary for local candidates.
In the recent past we have seen as few as 400 people participate in this budget referendum. Voting is a privilege and I hope you will make time to do so.
Craig R. Green
Presque Isle
