After a very long budget meeting a week prior, voters turned out in force at the polls to pass the RSU 50 budget on June 27.
Voters adopted a $9,340,140 plan for the 2013-14 school year, which is a 1.39 percent increase ($114,929) over the previous year. At the district budget meeting, voters accepted a $3,161,334 expenditure for regular instruction, with the local share being $2,516,593. The RSU 50 will support 740 students during the next school year.
The state is allotting $5,018,765 which is an increase of $92,700 over last year. However, in order to receive that state funds, the district is required to raise $2,516,594, which is an increase of $82,809. Because the district’s budget is greater than the state’s EPS formula, an additional $1,018,781 must be raised by towns in the district.
RSU 50 is made up of Crystal, Dyer Brook, Hersey, Island Falls, Merrill, Moro, Mt. Chase, Oakfield, Patten, Sherman, Smyrna and Stacyville.
The budget passed 251 in favor and 229 opposed.
A breakdown of the votes by community is as follows:
Crystal — 13 in favor, nine opposed.
Dyer Brook — 21 in favor, 15 opposed.
Hersey — three in favor, none opposed.
Island Falls — 47 in favor, 45 opposed.
Merrill — 13 in favor, nine opposed.
Moro Plantation — four in favor, none opposed.
Mt. Chase — 17 in favor, nine opposed.
Oakfield — 43 in favor, nine opposed.
Patten — 44 in favor, 47 opposed.
Sherman — 24 in favor, 55 opposed.
Smyrna — 12 in favor, seven opposed.
Stacyville — 10 in favor, 24 opposed.
On the second question on the continuing of the budget validation referendum process was approved 263 in favor and 210 opposed.
Breakdown by community is as follows:
Crystal — 14 in favor, eight opposed.
Dyer Brook — 23 in favor, 13 opposed.
Hersey — three in favor, none opposed.
Island Falls — 49 in favor, 43 opposed.
Merrill — 14 in favor, eight opposed.
Moro Plantation — three in favor, one opposed.
Mt. Chase — 20 in favor, six opposed.
Oakfield — 27 in favor, 24 opposed.
Patten — 37 in favor, 50 opposed.
Sherman — 44 in favor, 33 opposed.
Smyrna — 11 in favor, eight opposed.
Stacyville — 18 in favor, 16 opposed.
