By Terry Karkos,Staff Writer

BETHEL – Directors at SAD 44 have a month or more to rework their math regarding the $9.9 million school budget. At Tuesday’s polls, a majority of voters in Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock OK’d the budget, but undercut its funding by $1.98 million.

That means the board must decide on a figure other than $1,980,740 to raise and appropriate in additional local funds, Superintendent David Murphy said late Wednesday afternoon.

Whether that means cutting programs or staff won’t be known until sometime after the board takes up the issue at its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 19.

Then, after directors vote to approve the revised figure and new article at a meeting on Monday, June 26, they have a choice.

They can either convene another referendum within 45 days of Tuesday, at which the lone article with its reduced figure would be revoted, or hold a public hearing within 30 days of Tuesday, and conduct the vote there.

“A referendum would be a little more expensive, but probably more in line with what the board has traditionally done,” Murphy said, his voice little more than a whisper due to laryngitis.

Many years ago, he said, voters reduced a school budget at a public hearing, but Tuesday’s apparent confusion at the polls was the first time that SAD 44 voters had ever done it at a referendum.

“I’m hopeful that the board will look at the $1.98 million, and figure that it’s got to be X number of dollars less, and present it to taxpayers, and, if they say that’s more reasonable, and approve it, that’s it,” Murphy said.

Otherwise, if voters shoot the new figure down, the process can be prolonged indefinitely until a figure is settled on.

But, he added, he didn’t think that would be in anyone’s best interest.

Regarding the warrant, in question 1, the district sought to appropriate $6,855,089 from the state as the total cost to fund public education from kindergarten to grade 12, and, to raise $4,111,234 through assessments to SAD 44 towns. That was OK’d 587-507.

Question 2 sought to raise and appropriate $159,159 to make annual payments on non-state funded debt service previously approved by district voters for school construction and minor capital projects. It was approved 646-452.

Question 3 sought to raise and appropriate $1,980,740 in additional local funds, which exceeded the state’s essential programs and services allocation model by $1,444,364, to fund the budget recommended by directors. That apparently struck a nerve with voters, because they defeated it, 614-472.

Question 4 authorized the board to spend $9,911,861 as the school budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2007. It was approved 506-488.

Question 5 asked to appropriate $220,269 for adult education, to spend additional funds raised through grants or self-funded programs, and, to raise $97,850 as the local share. It was OK’d, 550-465.

Question 6 authorized directors to spend additional state and federal funds. Voters approved that, 600-414.