JAY — Residents of the three towns in RSU 73 will have a chance at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, to vote on an $18.65 million proposed budget for the upcoming school year.

The vote will take place at Spruce Mountain High School.

This proposed budget is about $240,000 less than the adopted budget for the current school year.

Superintendent Kenneth Healey said the decrease in the proposed budget is the result of six staff retirements. He said the duties will be redistributed and some classes will increase by one or two students

The proposed budget includes a slight salary increase for all 128 teachers as well other staff members.

He said a slight increase has been added to special education services. General purpose aid to education has remained the same as the current year.

Voters from Livermore, Livermore Falls and Jay will act on 22 articles. The final figure arrived at on April 7 will be voted on during a referendum election in each town on April 28 with a yes or no vote.

Healey said the towns of Livermore and Livermore Falls may see a slight increase in their school taxes because fewer state aid dollars has been assigned to them.