TOPSHAM

School Administrative District 75’s board of directors will hold a final budget hearing at 6 p.m. tonight at Mt. Ararat High School prior to the regular 6:30 p.m. meeting.

During its regular meeting, the school board is then slated to adopt a budget to send to voters at a district budget meeting at the Orion Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. on May 25. A budget validation referendum will be held in each of the district’s four towns on June 13.

During the final draft presentation on April 13, the finance committee recommended a $38 million budget for the 2017- 18 school year, which represents a $605,376, or 1.62 percent, increase.

The proposed spending plan would increase the local contribution by $993,796 or 4.4 percent. For owners of a typically valued home within the district, that could mean a tax bill increase of between $27 and $120.

The school district is expected to lose $307,000 in state subsidy.

The board will also determine if the budget amounts can be increased as well as decreased. In past years, warrant articles have been closed, so dollar amounts could only be lowered.

Other business

The school board will also consider appointing a director of special services, and then appoint several teachers to first-, second- and third-year probationary contracts as well as to fourth-year and continuing contracts.

In addition to committee reports and the superintendent report, the board will hear a presentation from Principal Ryan Keith on work taking place at Bowdoin Central School.

dmoore@timesrecord.com