OAKLAND — The school board representing Regional School Unit 18 unanimously approved a $37.58 million budget Wednesday night for the next fiscal year without any discussion.
The residents of Belgrade, China, Oakland, Sidney and Rome still have to vote on whether to approve the $37,580,390.14 budget proposal — which is up by $1,347,294, or 3.72 percent, from the current fiscal year’s — via referendum in June.
“We came up with a good number that I think the towns will support. The towns have been really supportive so far,” Superintendent Carl Gartley said before the vote.
One of the largest spending increases in the budget comes from the payments the district will make on the principle and interest of the $13.9 million bond to fix facilities and build an athletic complex that voters passed in November. The combined payments will total $1,989,334 for the fiscal year.
Gartley said the district is close to receiving the money from the bond and will solicit bids for a general contractor for the athletic complex soon.
The $4,984,133 special education budget is up by $269,884, or 5.72 percent, from this year — which is in line with other districts across the state.
Salaries for teachers, education technicians, administration and support staff are up by $437,910, or 2.13 percent, from this year, totaling $21,013,828.
The board also unanimously approved the $68,120 adult education budget for the next year, which is up $1,198, or 1.79 percent.
Member Karen Hatch Gagne expressed some worry to Gartley over the Legislature adjourning for their session without appropriating more than $1 billion in funds for public schools and asked what the likelihood of the issue remaining unresolved would be.
Gartley said he is checking on the issue every day and said he believes the schools would get the funding.
Board member Mary-Anne LaMarre said if the Legislature doesn’t act on the funding when they reconvene to take up bills Gov. Paul LePage vetoed, it would be devastating for the schools.
Emily Higginbotham — 861-9239
ehigginbotham@centralmaine.com
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