SAD 51 voters OK nearly $35M budget, elect Perfetti to Cumberland seat

CUMBERLAND — By a 2-1 margin Tuesday, School Administrative District 51 voters approved a $35 million budget for next year.

Cumberland voters elected former Town Councilor Mike Perfetti to the SAD 51 Board of Directors.

The budget passed in Cumberland, 620-327, and in North Yarmouth, 933-373, according to unofficial results.

Thanking voters from both towns in a message Tuesday night, SAD 51 Superintendent Jeff Porter wrote that the budget “balances the needs of our students with the ability of our community to support our high-performing school district.”

“In addition to the annual increase needed to fund the district’s fixed costs, the newly implemented Strategic Plan is the driver behind the remainder of the modest 3.5 percent overall increase,” he added. “The Strategic Plan is the critical vision that will carry our schools to new levels of quality for the youth of our community.”

Perfetti won the one contested seat on the SAD 51 Board of Directors, defeating Pete Wilson 523-322.

“I’m excited, I’m honored, and I’m looking forward to serving,” Perfetti said Tuesday night.