PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Residents in the SAD 1 communities of Castle Hill, Chapman, Mapleton, Presque Isle and Westfield will complete the first of a two-step budget approval process tonight as they vote on a proposed 2014-15 spending plan of $24,008,863.
The district-wide budget meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 at the Presque Isle High School cafeteria. The second step will be a budget validation referendum in each of the district’s five municipalities, which will be held Tuesday, June 10.
The proposed budget is an increase of $798,714, or about 3 percent.
The increase represents cost of living adjustments for all employee groups, as well as the absorption of a 9.5-percent increase in Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical insurance premiums.
“In adjusting for enrollment changes,” said Superintendent Gehrig Johnson, “we have made two employee reductions; however, through attrition, no one will lose their job. In the five previous years, 46 positions were eliminated, so we’re very fortunate that we’re not in that position this year.
“This budget is pretty straightforward,” he said. “There are no new costs — it merely moves the district forward intact for another year. While the budget is up about 3 percent, taxes are down in the SAD 1 fiscal year by $94,762 district-wide.”
A special article at tonight’s budget meeting will determine whether the district purchases an L-shaped, 34-acre parcel of land that surrounds the SAD 1 Educational Farm — known as the Lois Conant parcel — for $150,000.
Residents will be asked — through written ballot — “Shall SAD 1 raise and appropriate $150,000 for the purchase of approximately 34 acres of land adjacent to the existing school farm, which sum exceeds the State’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model by $150,000?”
If approved, the $150,000 would be included in the SAD 1 tax assessment. Castle Hill’s share would be $4,770, Chapman ($5,625), Mapleton ($23,715), Presque Isle ($110,430) and Westfield ($5,460).
Johnson said that acquiring the property, which is located east of the school farm’s current 37 acres, would expand and protect the educational programs of the school farm.
