HOULTON, Maine — New school spending plans for SAD 70 and RSU 50 were recently approved by voters at the district budget level.
A small group of residents turned out Tuesday, May 29, in Dyer Brook to approve a $5,024,735 budget for RSU 50 (Dyer Brook, Island Falls, Oakfield, Smyrna, Merrill, Hersey and Crystal) for the 2018-19 school year.
It marks the first time that RSU 50 has crafted a spending plan solely for Southern Aroostook Community School since the RSU was formed back in July 2011 as part of the state’s consolidation efforts. The RSU originally covered both SACS and Katahdin Area High and Katahdin Elementary schools.
Current superintendent Todd LeRoy was unable to attend the district budget meeting. According to acting Superintendent Jon Porter, who will officially take over as the district superintendent in July, the budget was passed with little questions from the few members in the audience.
RSU 50 will receive $2,328,866 in state funds, provided the communities contribute $1,558,402 in local funds. Because the district’s budget exceeds the state and local amounts determined by the state’s essential programs and services formula, an extra $788,876 is needed from “additional local” funds.
To help reduce the local tax burden, the district plans to use $275,000 from its carry forward account.
In SAD 70 on May 23, a small group of residents gathered at the high school to approve a $6,480,159 fiscal plan. That amount is down $144,544 from last year, but the impact to most taxpayers will still be a slight increase.
According to Superintendent Scott Richardson, SAD 70 will receive $3,098,304 from the state, which is a decrease of $150,354 from previous years. In order to receive those funds, the district must raise $1,852,654 in required local dollars, plus an extra $658,900 in additional local funds to balance the budget.
Due to changes in the state valuation, New Limerick residents will see a $67,275 decrease in their local share of the school budget, while the other communities of Amity, Haynesville, Hodgdon, Linneus and Ludlow will see small increases in their portions.
Each spending plan now faces a referendum vote at the polls the school district member communities on Tuesday, June 12.
