BETHEL – Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock voters hitting the polls on Tuesday, June 13, face a SAD 44 referendum budget that seeks $9.9 million to run the kindergarten-through-grade-12 system.
Eighty-nine percent of that, district business manager Bruce Powell said on Thursday, represents “things that we have very little control over.”
Things like heating oil and fuel costs, insurance coverage, leases, debt service, and negotiated wages and benefits.
Powell said this year’s $9,911,861 budget represents an increase of $572,512 over last year’s $9,339,349.
The $9.9 million doesn’t include an additional $97,850 to be raised locally to complement an appropriation of $220,269 for the adult education program.
Question 1 seeks to raise $4,111,234 through local assessments to match the state’s share of $6,855,089.
The second question seeks to raise and appropriate $159,159 for non-state-funded debt service associated with the Telstar sewer/water and track projects. It is figured into the $9.9 million budget.
Question 3 seeks to raise and appropriate $1,980,740 in additional local funds, which exceeds the state essential program’s and services funding model by $1,444,364.
According to the warrant, the additional $1,980,740 is needed to provide smaller class sizes and greater academic support through educational technicians and to pay for co-curricular and transportation costs, all of which are not recognized by the state funding model.
Powell said that according to the state, SAD 44 should be able to educate its students for $6,855,089. But, he said, the district claims it takes $8 million, which is why the additional $1.98 million is being sought through local assessments.
In other district matters, this is to be Powell’s last work on a district budget. He retires June 30 after a 22-year career.
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