MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council was advised Monday night that Regional School Unit 16 directors want to abolish voting on the school budget at the polls next year.

Board Chairwoman Mary Martin handed out a pamphlet from the school district explaining the reasons for changing the annual budget approval process.

She said state law requires that every three years the budget process be approved by district towns.

The budget is first approved by the school board, then presented to voters from Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland at a meeting at Poland Regional High School, where they decide on each spending article by a show of hands. Finally, the budget is voted on at polling stations in each town, usually in June.

The pamphlet asks voters to discontinue the vote at the polls.

According to the pamphlet, eliminating the final vote would make budget approval “a one-step streamlined process.”

The pamphlet states eight reasons why the referendum at the polls should be eliminated, including “hardships it presents to town clerks and community members having two referendums (school district and town) so close together” and extra costs.

Voters can ask questions and adjust amounts of each spending article only at the district meeting, it said.

Martin added that the board is voting on the school budget April 14, followed by the district meeting May 15 and the referendum at the polls June 14.

In other business, the council approved spending $27,441 from the reserve account to Quirk Auto Group for a 2023 police vehicle to replace the 2018 model.

Nomination papers are available for the following openings on the June ballot: A town councilor for three years, three school directors for three years each, and two Sanitary District trustees for three years each.

Papers are due at the Town Office by 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 15.

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