LIVERMORE FALLS – SAD 36 will hold a public hearing Thursday on a proposed $8.3 million budget for school operations, adult education and food services in the 2005-06 school year.
The hearing and informational meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, in the Livermore Falls Middle School cafeteria.
Of the total proposed, nearly $8.19 million would be for operations of grades kindergarten through 12; $86,940 for food services, which includes paying down a debt; and $91,760 for adult education.
The current budget is nearly $8.1 million.
Although the spending plan reflects an increase compared to the existing budget, the two towns combined would be assessed $202,331 less than last year.
Livermore’s proposed assessment is $1.58 million for 2005-06, a decrease of $67,648 from the current school year. Livermore Falls’ proposed assessment is $1.69 million, a $135,057 decrease.
The district’s proposed budget reflects a reduction of $1.12 per $1,000 of valuation from 2004-05, according to a letter from Superintendent Terry Despres in the SAD 36 budget booklet.
The current tax rate for education as determined by state valuations is about $13.98 per $1,000 of valuation. Under the proposed budget, the tax rate would be reduced to about $12.86 per $1,000 of valuation.
The district has budgeted more money directly for the classroom and has reduced related services of administration and other support staff, Despres said in April.
SAD 36 has entered into a one-year pilot program with Winthrop School Department to share administration and support staff services. Despres will serve as superintendent and business manager of both school districts with both towns sharing the cost of his salary.
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