POLAND — Regional School Unit 16’s proposed $20.8 million budget received strong support at Monday’s meeting of voters from Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland.

Board Chairwoman Mary Martin said the spending plan was essentially identical to the draft budget accepted April 11 by the School Committee.

Business Manager Stacie Field said it’s about $207,000 more than this fiscal year’s budget, but a slight increase in state aid will minimize the effects on property tax rates.

Superintendent Tina Meserve estimated that in Mechanic Falls taxes on a property valued at $100,000 would decrease by $6.73, while they would increase by $4.80 in Minot and increase by $17.52 in Poland.

Meserve pointed out that the budget includes $25,000 to install a portable classroom at Whittier Middle School to relieve overcrowding and to devise a permanent solution.

Other budget provisions include: $44,000 to continue efforts to develop and implement a new math program at the three elementary schools; $600 to hire an assistant cross-county coach to help handle more middle school students; $1,700 to support the Unified Basketball program; and $15,000 to send sixth-graders to the Ferry Beach Ecology School.

Poland Selectman Stan Tetenman asked if the school board had looked into having a private contractor provide transportation services. Meserve said the board decided not to deal with it at this time because of other priorities.

Tetenman said the district is spending over $1.5 million on transportation and if it could get the job done for $200,000 less, there might be more money for another priority.

In the only vote taken by written ballot, voters approved spending additional funds that exceed the state’s funding formula, known as Essential Programs and Services, 50-5.

A total of 57 registered voters attended the meeting, moderated by John Geismar, with 18 attending from Mechanic Falls, 13 from Minot and 26 from Poland.

The budget will go to a referendum vote at the polls June 14.