Residents living in Maine School Administrative District 75 approved a $47.3 million school budget on Tuesday.
The school budget was approved with 72% votes, 199-77. The budget is an 2.4% – or- $1million spending increase over the current year and it comes with a 1.4% hike in the school tax levy.
According to the budget referendum proposed a few months, while Topsham will see 1.88% increase in the property tax rate for a typical home valued at $170,000, the property tax rates in Harpswell will go up by 1.21% for a $428,000 property value.
The primary drivers for this year’s budget include adult education, salary and health insurance increases.
Meanwhile, the residents also voted 155-120 for a charter commission to be established to form a new municipal charter.
In total, 281 votes were recorded, with five ballots leaving the question blank.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less