HODGDON, Maine — By more than a 2-to-1 margin, voters in SAD 70 approved both a $6.5 million school budget and a $1.3 million bond at the polls last Tuesday.
“The SAD 70 School Board and Administration would like to thank the citizens of SAD 70 for their support of their local schools,” Superintendent Scott Richardson said. “With this budget and this approval of a bond referendum, we are prepared to move forward and provide the very best possible education to our students.”
The school budget, which totals $6,508,990, is only a slight increase over the previous year’s spending plan.
The budget was approved 113 in favor and 45 opposed. A breakdown by each community of the district is as follows: Amity, 9 in favor, zero opposed; Haynesville, 4 in favor, 4 opposed; Hodgdon, 49 in favor, 11 opposed; Linneus, 18 in favor, 12 opposed; Ludlow, 17 in favor, 16 opposed; and New Limerick, 16 in favor, two opposed.
The total loan is in the amount of $1,301,893 and of that figure, $379,330 will be spent on repairs at Mill Pond Elementary School and $922,563 will go toward upgrades at Hodgdon High School.
Richardson said because the loan is being procured through the state’s Revolving Renovation Fund, 64.25 percent of the note ($836,467) will be forgiven, meaning the district will only have to pay back $465,426. The district plans to do this through a 10-year, zero interest bond that will cost the district about $46,600 per year.
Voters approved the bond question by a vote of 100 in favor and 57 opposed. A breakdown by town reveals: Amity, 9 in favor, zero opposed; Haynesville, 2 in favor, 5 opposed; Hodgdon, 41 in favor, 19 opposed; Linneus, 16 in favor, 14 opposed; Ludlow, 16 in favor, 17 opposed; and New Limerick, 16 in favor, 2 opposed.
Voters were also asked if they wished to continue with the referendum process for approving a budget. That measure passed 111-45, meaning SAD 70 must do both a district budget meeting and a referendum for the next three years.
Now that the bond has been approved, Richardson said the district can focus its efforts on making improvements to its two school buildings.
“The next year will bring about a lot of improvements and updates to our two buildings,” Richardson said. “This will provide a safer and more up-to-date environment in which to educate our children.
“We are very thankful for our dedicated teachers and staff who are doing their part to implement new state mandates including proficiency-based education,” he continued. “Many people working together help us provide quality education.”
