RSU 50 budget narrowly passes

STACYVILLE, Maine — By the narrowest of margins, voters in RSU 50 approved a $9,261,281 school budget for 2012-13 at the polls Thursday.
RSU 50 is a consolidated school district between SAD 25 and CSD 9. It comprises the communities of Crystal, Dyer Brook, Hersey, Island Falls, Merrill, Moro, Mt. Chase, Oakfield, Patten, Sherman, Smyrna and Stacyville. The budget passed 240 in favor and 228 opposed.
    A breakdown of the votes by community is as follows:
Crystal — six in favor, seven opposed.
Dyer Brook — 24 in favor, 10 opposed.
Hersey — four in favor, three opposed.
Island Falls — 33 in favor, 50 opposed.
Merrill — 15 in favor, nine opposed.
Moro Plantation — one in favor, four opposed.
Mount Chase — 19 in favor, 19 opposed.
Oakfield — 32 in favor, 16 opposed.
Patten — 42 in favor, 20 opposed.
Sherman — 28 in favor, 68 opposed.
Smyrna — 17 in favor, 10 opposed.
Stacyville — 19 in favor, 12 opposed.
Changes in town’s valuations play a large role in how the budget will affect each of the communities. For example, Stacyville saw a major change in its town valuation and as such will see a large decrease in its share this year, while many other towns will see an increase.
The amount to be raised for each community, which is based on state valuations, and the tax impact it will have, is broken down as follows: Crystal, $169,163 (an increase of $2,853); Dyer Brook, $178,640 (up $2,272); Hersey, $41,937 (up $14,105); Island Falls, $782,764 (down $24,018); Merrill, $150,209 (up $701); Moro, $49,426 (up $29,087); Mt. Chase, $337,639 (down $153); Oakfield, $485,140 (up $5,832); Patten, $444,546 (down $17,960); Sherman, $487,331 (up $20,408); Smyrna, $205,866 (down $6,317); and Stacyville, $136,221 (down $135,696).