SAD 32 voters to decide on $3.3 million budget

 ASHLAND, Maine – Residents who comprise SAD 32 – Ashland, Garfield Plantation, Masardis, Oxbow Plantation and Portage Lake – will decide the fate of a $3,395,863 2007-2008 budget Monday.
According to Superintendent Gehrig Johnson, the district’s referendum vote will be Monday, June 25 at the member towns’ regular polling places.
  “The SAD 32 board adopted the budget at its June 11 meeting,” said Johnson. “Now it goes to the voters.
“While the proposal shows a 1.5 percent increase over last year,” he said, “total local education property taxes will be reduced by $108,335 for the five municipalities. Every municipality will be billed less based on SAD 32’s fiscal year and based on state valuations.”
Property tax levies, including adult education, would be assessed as follows: Ashland, $672,729, or a decrease of $89,947; Garfield Plantation, $51,792 ($5,247); Masardis, $209,266 ($5,031); Oxbow Plantation, $61,107 ($5,848); and Portage Lake, $356,651 ($2,262).
“In the proposal, we have made provisions for a cost-of-living increase in wages and salaries for all employees along with meeting the district’s share of increased health insurance premiums,” said Johnson. “We have also included funding for a full-time assistant principal and a required special education teaching position.
“We are planning to purchase a replacement school bus,” he said, “and we are confident we have covered any potential increases in heating fuel, bus fuel, and electricity.”
The superintendent said he’s certain that voters will find the 2007-2008 budget to be “very sound.” The proposal also reflects an increase in the capital reserve fund.
“The district is well into the process of state approval for a new school building complex,” said Johnson. “In anticipation of broad local support for a new school, we are recommending a $500,000 increase in the previously established capital reserve to dampen any effects on local costs associated with the new structure.”
Johnson said following the June 25 referendum vote, the SAD 32 board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 26 to validate the votes.
“They’ll vote to accept the vote count,” he said. “That’s the last step in the budget process.”