Voters OK school budgets for SAD 29, SAD 70

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    School budgets from SAD 29 and SAD 70 passed with wide support in both districts at the polls last Tuesday.
    In SAD 29, the $11.8 million budget passed by a vote of 955-310. A breakdown of votes by town reveals: Hammond, 14 yes, 6 no; Houlton, 698 yes, 219 no; Littleton 148 yes, 45 no; and Monticello, 95 yes, 40 no.
    For SAD 70, the $6 million spending plan passed by a vote of 450-176. A breakdown of votes by town shows: Linneus, 117 yes, 37 no; Hodgdon, 157 yes, 56 no; New Limerick, 114 yes, 38 no; Amity, 23 yes, 19 no; Haynesville, 21 yes, 8 no; and Cary Plantation, 18 yes, 18 no.
    Residents in all four towns will have a reduced tax burden from the 2009-10 levels. The district will receive $8,332,090 from the state, but in order to receive that money it is required to raise $2,433,630 in local tax dollars. That figure is broken down as follows: Houlton, $1,788,475; Hammond, $39,668; Littleton, $337,788; and Monticello, $267,699. The district will also receive $178,466 in federal “stimulus” money next year, but that will be the final year it will receive funds of this kind.
    In years past, SAD 29 has raised “additional local” funds to assist with various projects at the school. This year, no additional local funds were sought from the taxpayers.
    The SAD 29 budget is down $133,365 from last year. The budget was shaved by reducing the fuel account, based on savings the district achieved this past winter, according to SAD 29 Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick said. Personnel salaries, which were originally budgeted with a 3 percent increase, were reduced as well, since the negotiated contracts only called for a 2 percent rise in salaries next year.
    For SAD 70, the $6,058,644, budget represents a decrease of $190,205 (3 percent) from the current year’s budget. The district is receiving nearly $300,000 less from the state next year. Of that amount, $93,000 is a fine levied on the school district by the state for its failure to join a consolidation group, per state law.
    Two teaching positions are among the cuts proposed in next year’s budget. The district has four teachers at the top of the pay scale who retired at the end of the school year, and only two of those positions were to be filled. However, at its Monday night meeting, the SAD 70 school board unanimously voted to reinstate a kindergarten teaching position, due to a higher than anticipated incoming kindergarten class next year.
    Voters in both districts also approved the continuation of the referendum process in deciding school budgets. Required by the state of Maine, voters were asked if they wanted to continue the referendum process in deciding school budgets.
    In SAD 29, the referendum question passed by a vote of 863-386. A breakdown by town shows: Hammond, 12 yes, 8 no; Houlton, 631 yes, 282 no; Littleton, 131 yes, 60 no; and Monticello, 89 yes and 36 no.
    In SAD 70, the question passed by a vote of 380-216. A breakdown by town reveals: Linneus, 92 yes, 60 no; Hodgdon, 114 yes, 70 no; New Limerick, 114 yes, 38 no; Amity, 23 yes, 18 no; Haynesville, 22 yes, 9 no; and Cary Plantation, 15 yes, 21 no.
    “I think most people like the referendum process,” SAD 70 Superintendent Bob McDaniel said. “People like to vote at the polls. It’s a good way to do it because you don’t get a lot of people at the public hearings.”