BUCKFIELD – SAD 39 towns were initially told they would be getting back approximately $700,000 from the new school district on money they had overpaid SAD 39.

At the Tuesday night meeting, the Buckfield Board of Selectman announced that the latest news from the district is that RSU 10 will keep the money and use it to reduce the three towns’ school costs over the next three years. Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner make up the three towns in the SAD 39 district.

There will be a meeting in the SAD 39 School Board room on Monday, June 1, with the boards of selectmen from the three towns and members of RSU 10. Buckfield Town Manager Glen Holmes said he has some tough questions for Dr. Tom Ward.

Buckfield would have received nearly $300,000 back from SAD 39, and selectmen want to know why the town can’t get its money back and invest it in any way it chooses.

The original plan was for each town to receive the money over a three-year period to reduce school costs, but the towns would have possession of the money to reduce taxes. Right now Holmes said they are looking at a zero mill rate increase, but that could even go down if they got the money.

Holmes also said they will be needing more money in three years anyway because the SAD 39 teachers pay will increase to the level of Dixfield. The following year, the salaries will increase to the level of Rumford.

The selectmen wanted to know if the money will be invested and how much interest the town will get if the new district keeps the money. All agreed that the towns should get the money now. The consensus of the board was, “It’s our money.”

In other news, one person showed up for the four scheduled hearings. The board approved the Fire Chief Selection Ordinance, the Key Lockbox Ordinance, the Driveway/Entrance Ordinance and the town budget at their regular meeting.

The lights are up at Bessy Field and neighbors have already complained that they light up their property and shine in the bedrooms. Holmes scheduled a site visit to the park following the next selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday night, June 2.

There is still concern from a bee farmer who claims the lights will agitate his bees if he is moving them in from another site, since the bees may go to the lights. Selectman Skip Richardson said the teams have been cooperating with the owner of the bees and would reschedule games if given two days notice when the bees are being moved.

Susan Goulet from Goulet Enterprises reported to the board that she is optimistic about getting some grants that may be available. The grants she is working on are for a new fire station and renovation of the Municipal Center with emphasis on reclaiming the basement for more uses. The board asked if there was a grant to help in moving the Park and Ride up the street to a new location to give the town business area more parking space.

The board reviewed the town warrant, which sees a zero increase this year.

Town Clerk Cindy Dunn said the budget is approximately $30,000 under LD1.