By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HODGDON — A group of about 20 voters approved a $6,381,989 budget for SAD 70 Tuesday evening with little discussion.
As presented, the SAD 70 spending plan features an increase in spending of $100,000 from last year. However, because the state is providing the district with less state aid, and requiring more in the form of local revenue to get that state aid the tax impact could be significant.
For the 2013-14 school year, SAD 70 will receive $3,185,631 from the state, which is a decrease of $56,581 from last year. To receive those funds, the district is required to come up with $1,758,303 in local tax dollars.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
SCHOOL BUDGET — Jon Harbison casts his ballot at the June 18 SAD 70 district budget hearing. The budget passed almost unanimously and went to a referendum vote Tuesday.
Because the district spends more than what the state says it should to provide essential programs and services, an extra $775,455 is needed in additional local funds to balance the budget. The district plans to take $400,000 from its carryover account to help offset those costs.
Of the seven communities that make up SAD 70 (Amity, Cary, Haynesville, Hodgdon, Linneus, Ludlow and New Limerick), six will see an increase in their tax assessment over the previous year. The following is a breakdown of the total town assessment by community:
• Amity — $140,991 (an increase of $12,930).
• Cary — $119,970 (increase of $5,339).
• Haynesville — $96,387 (increase of $6,696).
• Hodgdon — $599,340 (increase of $52,562).
• Linneus — $638,817 (increase of $47,914).
• Ludlow — $239,428 (increase of $18,319).
• New Limerick — $709,425 (decrease of $1,270).
Prior to voting, moderator Estela Lane went over each cost center with the audience and explained the reasons why the district was taking out a $93,000 loan. The district has been debt-free for over 10 years.
“We have some things in the school that need our attention and have for many, many years,” Lane said. “Some of those items will actually save us some money and pay for themselves in a couple of years. If there is ever a time to take out a loan, it is now.”
Included in the loan package is $65,766 to install two heating boosters in Hodgdon High School and Mill Pond School. The boosters will make the existing heating systems far more efficient, Lane explained, allowing the district to reduce its fuel consumption and thus saving money.
Additionally, $7,105 will be spent to update the outdoor lights in the district to LED bulbs; $4,000 will used to install new doors in the elementary school for safety reasons; $3,336 for a DVR security system; and $5,000 for extra cameras on the school buildings to increase security.
The district also plans to spend $7,520 to replace the 35-year-old roof on the superintendent’s building.
The SAD 70 budget referendum was held Tuesday. Results from that referendum were not available by presstime.
