FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 will hold a districtwide vote on a proposed $32.74 million budget for 2016-17 at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14, in the Bjorn Auditorium at Mt. Blue Campus.

School board directors made $224,071 in reductions from an initial budget proposal of $32.97 million, rejected by 137 votes at the polls on June 14. The proposed spending package reflects a $705,202 increase, or 2.2 percent, over last year’s $32 million budget.

The budget set by voters Thursday night will go to a yes-or-no validation referendum in all 10 district towns Thursday, July 28.

The reductions, plus an additional $50,000 added to the $500,000 in carryover already factored in to offset the budget, along with other anticipated revenue, will result in a decrease of 2.1 percent in overall tax assessments. Eight towns will see reduced education assessments, according to RSU 9 data.

The town of New Vineyard would see a $339 increase; Starks, a $17,563 increase.

Reductions factored into the proposal are:

*$48,131: Not filling a vacant middle school world language teacher position;

*$3,603: Savings from high school teacher resignation;

*$12,404: Elimination of special services technician position;

*$10,380: At-will contract agreement;

*$25,000: Reduction in special services contingency fund;

*$5,000: Reduced stipend for assistant to the athletic director;

*$31,351: Savings from retirement of guidance director;

*$5,000: Reduced stipends for technician liaisons;

*$25,000: Reduced system administration contingency;

*$2,440: Removed superintendent’s budget increase;

*$766: Reduced assistant superintendent, business manager budgeted increases;

*$25,000: Savings from new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning contract; 

*$30,000: Reduction from facilities maintenance contingency.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

If Regional School Unit 9’s proposed $32.74 million budget moves forward Thursday, July 14, and is approved by referendum vote on July 28, proposed school taxes would be:

Chesterville: $936,087, decrease of $14,442;

Farmington: $4.6 million, decrease of $90,593;

Industry: $808,601, decrease of $10,408;

New Sharon: $1 million, decrease of $26,013;

New Vineyard: $705,475, increase of $339;

Starks: $358,692, increase of $17,563;

Temple: $440,274, decrease of $17,777;

Vienna: $699,759, decrease of $4,425;

Weld: $8,647, decrease of $8,647; and

Wilton: $2.88 million, decrease of $124,249.

Source: RSU 9