TOPSHAM — The School Administrative District 75 Board of Directors on April 28 unanimously approved a $34.2 million budget for fiscal 2012, a 1.65 percent decrease from the current year.
Residents of Topsham, Harpswell, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham will now vote twice to ratify the spending plan.
Next year’s budget would decline by more than $572,000 from the current $34.8 million. Total local contribution across the district would be flat at $18.7 million, but each town would see an increase or decrease, triggered by valuation changes.
Topsham’s would increase 3.15 percent to $7.8 million, Harpswell’s would decrease nearly 5 percent to $6.5 million, Bowdoin’s would rise 2.18 percent to $2.1 million, and Bowdoinham’s would increase 2.36 percent to $2.3 million.
School officials said the fiscal 2012 spending plan reflects the district’s intention to address a revenue shortfall of nearly $594,000 without jeopardizing programs or increasing the district-wide contribution.
Positions to be cut include two eighth-grade Mt. Ararat Middle School teachers, a science teacher and two alternative education staff at Mt. Ararat High School, 1.8 elementary librarians, and an interventionist.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at Mt. Ararat High School at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12. The public will then vote on the spending plan at a district budget meeting, to be held at the Orion Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26.
The budget validation referendum concludes the process on Tuesday, June 14.
Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
