MEXICO – The Region 9 School of Applied Technology board approved budgets for the secondary and adult education programs Tuesday night, then set May 20 for a vote by residents of the 16-town vocational area.

If approved, the 2003-2004 secondary vocational budget would be just over $1 million, at $1,003,280, up 5.8 percent from the current year’s operating budget of $948,250. The adult and community education budget would rise 2.5 percent, to almost $203,000, up from about $198,000 for this year.

Increases are largely caused by a hefty increase in the cost for health insurance premiums and salary hikes to bring instructors’ pay in line with the average salaries paid by the region’s sending school districts, the officials said.

The town meeting-style vote will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, at the River Road school.

If the vocational school budget is passed as proposed, SAD 21 would pay $234,267; SAD 43, $438,628; SAD 44, $214,329; Peru, $86,978; Hanover, $12,461; Gilead, $9,968; and Upton, $249.

Of the 160-plus students attending the vocational school, SAD 43 sends 70; SAD 21 sends almost 40; SAD 44 sends about 35; and the remainder come from the unaffiliated towns.

If the adult and community education proposed budget is passed, SAD 21 would pay $18,686; SAD 43, $66,267; SAD 44, $14,333; Peru, $4,479; Hanover, $603; Gilead, $372; and Upton, $146.

About $6,300 of the $14,433 assessed to SAD 44 will be returned to that district during the upcoming year, however, to make up for the lack of services provided in the Bethel area. The funding would come from Region 9 grant money. SAD 44 operates its own adult education program.

Director Deborah Guimont said that the Region 9 adult education program will strive to bring several adult education offerings to the Bethel area next year, including truck driving and certified nursing assistant training.

The annual election of officers was also held at Tuesday’s meeting. Re-election to additional one-year terms were Chairman Norman Clanton, SAD 44; Vice-Chairman Wayne Thurston, Peru; treasurer, Guimont; and secretary, Melanie Babb.

The board also welcomed the newly appointed representative from SAD 44, Keith Farrington. Seats yet to be filled include one each from SAD 43, SAD 21, Gilead and Upton.

eadams@sunjournal.com