The district is facing revenue losses for several reasons.

GRAY – SAD 15 voters will be asked June 8 to approve a $17 million budget adopted by the school board this week.

School Board Chairman Dan Maguire of Gray and member Carmel Morin of New Gloucester voted against the budget, saying they opposed the new full-day kindergarten initiative. Morin added that he objected to separating the kindergarten request from the general budget package.

In light of unexpected news this week that the district would lose an additional $63,751 in state subsidy revenue, the board grappled to revise the budget after months of deliberations.

The board agreed not to cut the lost revenue from the basic budget proposal. So far, the district’s total lost revenue from the state is $193,751 for next year. The district also faces lost revenue from fewer tuition students, increased property value and lower enrollment.

The board agreed to ask voters to approve a separate warrant article to fund an all-day kindergarten program at $165,873. That money would come from additional local funds beyond the local share of $2,686,931 to match the foundation allocation and debt service budget. Also, the district’s adult education program, at $48,019, would come from additional local funds.

This year for the first time the board is requesting a capital reserve fund request of $150,000 for maintenance, repair and improvement to school facilities.

In other business, the board agreed not to apply this June for state funding to build a new school. Instead the board will study other initiatives to bring all schools up to date by applying to the state for revolving renovation funds.

In addition, the board will study whether to ask voters to pass a bond to get the district’s five schools renovated quickly in the future. A recent building study conducted by the James W. Sewell Co. of Orono is being used to plan ahead.

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