PARIS — Just under 50 voters unanimously approved a $34.6 million budget for the Oxford Hills School District at a hearing Thursday night.
The budget was outlined in a 16-article warrant and voters had the opportunity to change it but did not. The budget now goes to a referendum June 14 in each of the eight district towns.
The district’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the budget last month. It is $427,670 more than for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.
Colpitts told voters assembled at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School that the school budget was frozen early in the year, but cuts in state and federal money and the need to meet state requirements for local education funding made it difficult to develop a budget without making cuts. In the end, a full-time and a half-time position at the high school were cut, along with a half-time music teacher, $110,000 in transportation costs and other items.
The total number means an increase of 4.84 percent for local assessments in order to maintain essential programs and services for students and meet state mandates.
Colpitts told voters that is they had tried to lower the assessments any more it would probably result in loss of more state aid.
The referendum question June 14 will be a yes or no question, Colpitts said. At that time, voters will also be asked to approve a $1.2 million in school renovations to take care of a mold and moisture problem at the Otisfield Elementary School and for handicap accessibility issues at three other elementary schools.
ldixon@sunjournal.com
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- Oxford Hills School District Board of Directors Chairman Ron Kugell, left, and Curtis Cole, chairman of the district Budget Committee, listen as Superintendent Rick Colpitts describes the 2011-12 budget to voters Thursday night at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris. On the table is the ballot box where just under 50 residents deposited their ballots, approving the 16-article warrant.
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