LIVERMORE FALLS — Residents in RSU 73 will go to the polls Tuesday, April 23,  for a budget validation vote.

Polls at town offices in Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Last week, voters approved an $18.58 million budget for 2013-14.

If the proposed budget is approved Tuesday, Jay residents will see a property tax decrease of $45.46 per $100,000 of assessed value; Livermore residents will see an increase of $60.94 per $100,000 of property value.; and Livermore Falls residents will see an increase of $82.77 per $100,000 of property value.

Superintendent Robert Wall said among the items built into the proposed budget are about $225,000 for the district to pay a portion of the state’s share of teacher retirement, along with continuing several positions that had previously been funded by grants. Several other positions that had been paid by grants have been eliminated, along with several other custodial, educational technician, secretarial and teaching positions.

He said the cost of educating youngsters has declined since the consolidation of the former RSU 36 in LivermoreFalls and the former Jay School Department. For secondary students, that figure has dropped to $9,216, from $10,190, and for elementary children, that figure has dropped to $6,093 from $7,455.

He said virtually all costs, except for student instruction, are below the current year’s figure.

Among the items related to teacher instruction are about $300,000 in contingency funds on top of the $300,000 approved for the current budget. Much of that money will be used to settle several school employee contracts.

Teachers, and other bargaining units from Spruce Mountain schools in Jay and Livermore Falls have been working without a contract for more than a year. One of the major items at issue is bringing the salary schedule in line for teachers at both high schools.

When the 2013-14 school year begins in August, all Spruce Mountain High School students and teachers will be on the same campus in Jay. Much of Spruce Mountain High School in Livermore Falls will be closed, while several portions of it will remain open for other district uses.

The RSU 73 board will meet at 6 p.m. April 25 at the Central Office to validate the result of the vote on April 23.

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