A large majority approves the SAD 44 budget referendum
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

BETHEL – By a 588-267 tally, voters in the SAD 44 towns of Andover, Bethel, Greenwood and Woodstock approved a $9.1 million District Budget Referendum. Newry had yet to submit its numbers by 10:30 p.m.

“We’re very excited” about the budget passing, said Superintendent David Murphy. “That’s great news! I think there’s a lot in the budget that’s going to be good for kids and that’s the bottom line.”

The budget represents a 3.22 percent overall increase over last year’s budget and a 3.5 percent increase for the local share, Murphy said.

In addition to authorizing directors in Question 4 to spend $8,907,090 as SAD 44’s 2003-04 school budget, district residents voted 573-279 on Question 5 to appropriate $220,076 for adult education and raise $98,904 as the local share.

Other subtotals included:

• 607-247, approving Question 1, which sought to appropriate $6,139,397 from the foundation allocation for school purposes for the 2003-04 school year and raise $4,041,557 as the local share of the allocation.

• 587-266, approving Question 2, which sought to appropriate $386,732 from the debt service allocation for the 2003-04 year and raise $265,364 as the local share of the debt service allocation.

• 550-312, approving Question 3, which sought to raise $1,205,089 in additional local funds.

By a 648-189 tally on Question 6, voters also authorized the School Board to apply for, accept and spend on behalf of the district all gifts, advances, grants, aid and other funds for educational purposes.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com