BETHEL — Residents of SAD 44 approved a $10.56 million budget for 2014-15 Tuesday night.

More than 40 residents gathered at Telstar Regional High School approved the proposal in 70 minutes with little discussion.

The budget is $192,915 more than this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Superintendent David Murphy said no staff positions were eliminated.

A budget validation referendum will be held June 10 at polling stations in Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock.

Murphy told residents the article asking them to authorize the school board to spend up to $210,000 from the School Capital Reserve Fund for school roof repair/improvement projects.

“I think if you look at our district, and other districts, that it’s important to plan for our future and maintain our buildings,” Murphy said. “Originally, the board was going to cull $100,000 from the reserve fund, but in the course of discussion, and looking at the buildings in the district, they agreed to take out a little more to make sure we get all the work done now.”

Murphy said the board set aside around $800,000 specifically for capital improvements and the $210,000 would be taken from that account.

“We would be replacing a good piece of the roof on Woodstock School, which has started to leak, and a couple sections of Telstar Middle/High School,” Murphy said. “There’s also a smaller project in Andover that we would work on.”

Voters also approved an Adult and Community Education budget of $158,073, a 4 percent increase over this year.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link