RUMFORD — Despite efforts to reduce individual spending requests, RSU 10 voters approved a school budget that includes a districtwide tax increase of 3.43 percent.

At a town-hall-style meeting at Mountain Valley High School on Wednesday night, Mexico resident Reggie Arsenault repeatedly asked for cuts in separate articles of the $26.48 million spending plan for next year. 

“We’re going to get creamed if this keeps up and the people of the town of Mexico will no longer be able to afford their homes,” Reggie Arsenault said.

He was joined by other Mexico residents and Sumner residents. Other towns in RSU 10 are Rumford, Buckfield, Hartford, Hanover and Roxbury.

At one point during the meeting, moderator John Madigan asked townspeople to “try to keep the discussion to each pertinent article.” He noted that the “overall theme (of the meeting) is cutting (the budget).”

Chris Brennick of Rumford disagreed with Arsenault and others who requested cuts.

“(The amounts aren’t) just a number somebody picked out of a hat,” Brennick said. “We need to remember that these (amounts) aren’t just dollars and cents, these represent classroom teachers, supplies and technology.” 

Sumner resident Tom Standard asked for a $50,000 cut to the $799,512 budgeted for summer school, co-curricular and extracurricular activities including drama, music and athletics.

Standard said students and their families should pay to play sports. “We don’t need to pay to entertain your kids,” he said. “We need to pay to educate your kids.” 

The one written ballot to see whether voters would agree to raise $4.78 million in local funds for school programs was approved by a vote of 31-8.

The initial budget proposal for the 2018-19 plan prepared by school board directors included a more than 10 percent increase in local contributions.

“(We decreased the budget amount) without reducing programs and services for students and we also increased funds for safety and security,” Superintendent Deb Alden said.

In order to meet the lower budget requirements the board of directors chose to postpone some facilities and maintenance repair and to postpone the debt payment for the district’s nutrition program along with other cuts to the budget, Alden said.

A budget validation referendum is scheduled for June 12 in each of the RSU 10 member towns.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

RSU 10 logo.

Local tax impact of RSU 10 budget: 

Town                                 Percentage increase

Buckfield                          4.66

Hanover                            2.86

Hartford                           4.20

Mexico                               4.74

Roxbury                             8.87

Rumford                            1.57

Sumner                              7.12

Source: RSU 10                                      

Buckfield Junior-Senior High School Principal George Reuter casts his vote for a written ballot at the RSU 10 budget meeting Wednesday. Voters approved a budget of $26.48 million. (Marianne Hutchinson, Rumford Falls Times)

School board Director Greg Buccina, standing, and the RSU 10 board of directors at the budget meeting Wednesday. (Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times)

Townspeople at the RSU 10 budget meeting on Wednesday. (Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times)