Troy Ripley, chairman of the Maine School Administrative District 17 board of directors, and other members vote to elect Terry Hayes of Buckfield to moderate SAD 17’s third budget validation meeting Thursday at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. All articles on the warrant easily passed and the $50.43 million budget will go to referendum Oct. 8.  Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat

PARIS — More than 100 Oxford Hills residents attended Maine School Administrative District 17’s latest budget validation meeting, the third one after voters rejected spending plans at referendum June 10 and then again Aug. 6.

As in previous validation meetings, all articles on the warrant easily passed.

But public hearing support has not led to districtwide passage of the budget, which failed on June 11 by a vote of 1,840 to 1,236, and again on Aug. 6 when 703 voters cast their ballot in opposition, while 596 were in favor.

The most recent budget, which goes to referendum Oct. 8, proposes $50.43 million in spending. Since June, SAD 17’s administration and board of directors have stripped out $1.18 million in operation costs and $2 million in capital improvements.

While some perennial divisive and nitpicking remarks peppered the session, those in attendance had little to nothing to say about the key arguments against the first draft. A $2 million capital request with no specific plan was dropped, while a second proposal, to maintain three administrator roles at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, remains.

The majority of those who spoke stood up to state their support for the district and its 600 educators and support staff.

Several of the articles presented at the validation meeting required written ballots. Results of those were:

• Article 12 for an appropriation of $39.97 million, including $17.87 million in local assessments: 117 yes, 4 no.

• Article 13 for $32,369 in annual payments on previously approved debt service: 114 yes, zero no.

• Article 14 to raise and appropriate funds exceeding Essential Programs and Services of $7.5 million: 99 yes, 9 no.

• Article 15 to authorize the school board to expend $50.16 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year: 94 yes, 2 no.