DIXFIELD — The Regional School Unit 56 revised spending plan of $12.95 million was approved 320-221 by residents of the towns of Dixfield, Peru, Canton and Carthage at the second school budget referendum Tuesday. 

The estimated annual tax increase provided by each town office on a home valued at $100,000 based on the proposed school budget is Canton, $60; Carthage, $52.19; Dixfield, $175; and Peru, $100 to $120.

The town votes were as follows:

• Dixfield, approved, 145-106;

• Peru, rejected, 74-101;

• Canton, approved, 61-11; and

• Carthage, approved, 40-3.

In June, voters rejected a $13.2 million budget, which increased tax assessments by an average of more than 20 percent.

Earlier in July, Maine state funding allotted an additional subsidy of $275,000 to be shared by the schools and towns, and that amount along with cuts made by the district helped to bring the four towns’ average increase in assessments to less than 12 percent.

Cuts in curriculum development, computer upgrades, accounts payable, an administrative assistant to the superintendent, stipend pay freezes and adjustments, and reductions in overtime by transportation and maintenance staff were included in the board’s decisions to lower the budget.

Dirigo High School will also have one fewer teacher, and there will be fewer after-school activity bus runs at Dirigo elementary and middle schools. The high school and middle school will forgo repairs to equipment, and supplies and furniture for the schools won’t be purchased.

The four towns voted in November to leave RSU 10 to save money and gain more control. RSU 10 now includes Rumford, Mexico, Roxbury, Hanover, Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner. The town of Byron also withdrew from the RSU in November to form its own school district.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

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