BETHEL – SAD 44 directors plan to approve a referendum article seeking funds for the district’s $9.9 million budget at a meeting tonight.
SAD 44 residents passed the budget in a referendum vote earlier this month. But voters denied a request to raise funds over-and-above what state essential programs and services guidelines suggest.
Superintendent David Murphy said Friday that during the June 13 referendum, voters nixed the district’s request to spend $1.98 million more than what the state recommends. But in the next question, Murphy said, residents voted to back the district’s plan to spend “the total amount” of $9.9 million.
That leaves the district in a sticky, and ultimately, untenable position, Murphy said, with a voter-approved budget $1.98 million above what will be coming in from taxation and state subsidy.
Murphy said he suspects voters nixed Question 3 more out of confusion, rather than a genuine desire not to fund the district. “Part of it could have been confusion over the wording,” he said.
School board directors tonight plan to OK new wording for Question 3, in anticipation of a special referendum planned for July 25. After new wording is approved, Murphy said he plans to visit local officials to dispel some of the confusion caused by the referendum vote.
“I think it’s really important for people to understand all the facts around this,” he said.
The meeting will be held at 7:30 tonight in the Telstar High School Library.
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