On Wednesday, May 28, the public was
invited to the budget meeting for RSU14. Approximately 50 people, including the
school board, attended to discuss and vote on the budget recommendations for
the 2014-2015 budget.
The seventeen articles voted on were a precursor
to the budget validation referendum, which will be on the June 10th
ballot. Residents vote in Raymond at Jordan-Small Middle School and in Windham
in the main gym at Windham High School, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There wasn’t much discussion, except for
a few Raymond residents who inquired about the portion of cost centers that
belonged to Raymond taxpayers.
According to a financial agreement the
two towns made when they formed the RSU, Windham pays 55.53 percent of any
overages and Raymond pays 44.56 percent. The percentages were based on the
expenses during the three years before they merged.
The State of Maine is only funding 97
percent of the money they promised to pay school districts, leaving the towns
to fund the rest through taxes.
The voters agreed to the recommendation
to raise $3,381,898.29 which will balance the budget with a vote of 41 yes to 9
no and 1 blank ballot. That expense is used “To continue programs and services
that are presently offered, that are not covered or not fully covered by the
EPS (Essential Programs and Services Funding Act) allocation model, such as
athletics and co-curricular activities, Advanced Placement courses.”
The board encouraged all voters to go to
the polls on June 10 to pass the budget.
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