HODGDON, Maine — Residents in the communities that make up SAD 70 will soon have a chance to ask questions and vote on a proposed $6.8 million budget for the 2020-21 school year.
The SAD 70 school board approved a $6,823,407 budget during its May meeting. That budget is up $186,917 from the current spending plan.
Voters in Hodgdon, Amity, Haynesville, Linneus, Ludlow and New Limerick will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, June 29, at the Hodgdon Middle-High School gymnasium to discuss and vote on the plan.
Starting June 1, gatherings of 50 people are permissible under the state’s gradual reopening of restrictions put in place because of COVID-19. Seats will be spaced out throughout the gym to accommodate the six-foot rule for gatherings, according to school officials.
If more than 50 people attend the gathering, an additional room will need to be opened for those individuals. Traditionally, the school budget has garnered a very low turnout for the district budget meetings.
Voters in SAD 70 will also cast ballots for the budget during the special July 14 primary referendum elections.
The district will receive $3,422,090 in the form of state subsidy, which represents an increase of $211,865 over the current budget. In order to receive those funds, the district must raise $1,916,735 for its local share of the budget. That figure is up $28,216.
Because the district is spending above what the state says it should be for Essential Programs and Services, residents must also contribute $475,516 in additional local funds to help balance the budget. The good news is that amount is a decrease of $40,932 from the current fiscal year.
SAD 70 plans to use a carryover — money budgeted in 2019-20 that was not spent — of $375,000.
Like many other school districts, teacher salaries are the driving force in the increased budget. Teacher salaries are up $47,093, while benefits/insurance is up $30,214. In addition, the district plans to spend an additional $41,000 for new textbooks.
Funds will also be raised for paving the high school parking lot.
