FREEPORT
Tonight, residents in the three towns served by Regional School Unit 5 will get their first chance to hear about the proposed 2018-19 budget.
The spending plan comes with an estimated 3 percent tax increase. That’s because the $32.79 million budget proposal includes $479,814 — or 1.49 percent — in increased expenditures.
The budget focuses on increasing achievement in math, increased student support and increased funding for building maintenance.
Additional expenses, as of March 14, included $83,500 for a fifth grade teacher, $30,000 for finance software, $35,150 for an ed tech to undertake MaineCare billing, $15,000 for strategic planning and an additional $4,000 in stipends at the high school.
The RSU is benefiting from the way the state recalculated state aid for fiscal year 2019. Region 10 Technical High School will receive funding directly from the state, resulting in a $500,000 expenditure drop, although the revenue line is decreasing as well.
“That is really helping us out in the expenditures this year,” Superintendent Becky Foley told the board on March 14.
She also told the board that RSU 5 will be receiving an additional $124,000 in state subsidy next fiscal year. The impact of the educator and support staff contracts is still unknown, she said.
The question-and-answer session on the budget will take place from 6-6:30 p.m. tonight, prior to the start of the school board meeting, in the Freeport High School library.
Residents also can speak to the budget during the board meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. After a brief review of the budget, school officials will be taking public input and questions.
“We have proposed a budget that we believe to be fiscally responsible and that will lead to increased student achievement,” according to an announcement about the budget feedback session.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the budget March 28. The annual budget meeting will take place May 23 and the budget validation referendum on June 12.
School officials will also hold “Dine and Discuss” sessions to garner public feedback on the budget:
• Wednesday, April 11 — 6- 6:30 p.m., Pownal Elementary School
• Wednesday, April 25 — 6- 6:30 p.m., Durham Community School
• Wednesday, May 9 — 6- 6:30 p.m., Freeport High School
For more information, visit rsu5.org/Content2/budget1819.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
‘Dine and Discuss’
SCHOOL OFFICIALS will also hold “Dine and Discuss” sessions to garner public feedback on the budget:
• Wednesday, April 11 — 6-6:30 p.m., Pownal Elementary School
• Wednesday, April 25 — 6-6:30 p.m., Durham Community School
• Wednesday, May 9 — 6-6:30 p.m., Freeport High School
For more information, visit rsu5.org/Content2/budget1819.
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