MEXICO – Region 9 residents will have a chance to ask questions about the proposed 2005-06 secondary and adult education budgets at two public hearings set for early April.
Director David Driscoll said public hearings for a proposed secondary budget of $1.14 million and an adult and community education budget of $232,000 are set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Telstar Regional High School and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology on River Road in Mexico.
Board members will then consider comments gathered at both hearings at a meeting on April 11. Final budgets will then be adopted by the board. Residents will have the final say at the annual districtwide budget vote on May 17.
Both budgets are up about 8 percent from the 2004-05 operating budgets.
Driscoll said much of the hike is caused by salary increases, heating and fuel oil costs and funding a computer technology position in the regular budgets. Previously, that salary was paid by a grant.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Driscoll said eight bids were opened for engineering and architectural design work for a planned expansion of the school and for renovations within the existing building.
He said interviews will begin at the end of March, and by July, a set of blueprints and design plans should be ready for public review. The board is aiming for a vote on the $1 million-plus building and renovation project in September. The funds, if approved by voters, would come from the Department of Education revolving loan program, which offers a 60/40 match of no-interest loan and a grant.
Tentatively planned is a six-room addition, replacement of the roof, installation of an elevator, and construction of walls between two of the vocational programs’ open spaces.
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