RSU 78 voters to consider validation of $3.89 million school budget

RANGELEY — Regional School Unit 78 voters on Tuesday set a $3.89 million school budget to go before voters on Tuesday, June 14, in a validation referendum in each of the respective polling places.

The school unit serves Rangeley, Dallas Plantation, Rangeley Plantation and Sandy River Plantation, all in Franklin County, and Magalloway Plantation in Oxford County.

Voters added $10,000 to the initial $40,000 food service budget on Tuesday night to increase the proposed budget to $3.89 million, Superintendent Jay McIntire said.

“The additional funds were added to more accurately reflect the cost of the school’s food service program,” he said. “In each recent year, there has been $40,000 allocated and it has not proved to be enough.”

The overall budget represents an increase of $186,953.51 for the 2016-17 budget.

Voters will also be asked in a second question on the ballot if they want to continue the validation referendum process in RSU 78 for an additional three years.

A yes vote means that the school system will continue a two-step voting process for the next three years. Currently, voters vote on a budget at the annual open-style districtwide budget vote, and that budget goes to a yes- or-no validation referendum.

A no vote means that only the districtwide budget vote will occur annually for at least the next three years.

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A yes or no validation referendum on the proposed RSU 78 budget set by voters Tuesday will be held in Rangeley and each of the four plantations on June 14.

Voting times and places are:

Dallas Plantation: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Town Office

Magalloway Plantation: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Town Office

Rangeley Plantation: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Town Office

Rangeley: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Town Office

Rangeley Plantation: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Town Office