Staff Writer
Education budgets in School Union 122 will be considered this week, beginning with Woodland residents looking at a proposed $1.8 million budget at 7 p.m. today at the Woodland Consolidated School. New Sweden will consider municipal and education budgets on Tuesday, June 24.
The June 18 session will consider the Woodland school budget as described in 16 separate articles.
According to the warrant, a total of $969,207 for regular instruction and $322,648 for special education has been proposed. Funds for student and staff support as well as for transportation and building maintenance also are included in the budget proposal.
A comparison with last year’s Woodland expenditures, or the amount of local appropriation needed to support the budget, was not available at presstime.
The budget validation vote for the Woodland school spending plan will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 at the town’s public works garage.
In New Sweden, voters will meet on Tuesday, June 24. Elections will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a meeting at 7 p.m. at the town office.
Residents will consider a $1.2 million school budget, which will require about $192,000 in local taxes to support the spending plan, according to town officials.
The town is expecting a decrease in state funding from $694,498 to $537,856. At the same time the school department is dealing with increased fuel costs. The proposed 2008-2009 budget also would require less local funds, according to the proposed budget.
To accommodate lesser revenues, several reductions has been made, including cuts in teaching positions, elimination of ed tech positions and in technology. Several changes have been made at the administrative level.
The budget validation vote will be held on Monday, June 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the town office.
On the municipal side, three candidates are running for a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen. Lee Thompson, the incumbent, is opposed by Emery Blanchette and Sven Bondeson.
Debbie Eustis-Grandy is a candidate for re-election to a three-year term on the New Sweden School Committee, and Carolyn Morrison is running for a one-year term on the panel.
A two-year term on the school committee will be decided by write-in votes.
The proposed municipal budget shows an increase in the tax commitment from $348,397 to $372,804. The tax rate is expected to increase from $15.30 per $1,000 of valuation to about $16, according to town officials.
Increased heating oil costs are cited as a reason for the increase, according to the proposed budget.
