Near $11.8M RSU 68 budget set for June 11 referendum

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A proposed $11,784,238 RSU 68 budget for the 2019-20 academic year was approved at the annual district budget meeting on May 28 at the SeDoMoCha School. The spending package will now go to a referendum in the towns of Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Sebec on Tuesday, June 11 with residents of the four communities voting either “yes” or “no” to make a district-wide decision on the total amount.

Superintendent Stacy Shorey said the budget has been developed over the last several months with those involved operating under guiding principles of making transparent, student-centered budget decisions and making budget decisions that reflect the district mission statement.

The near $11.8 million figure was approved across 21 warrant articles by nearly 20 voters in attendance with minimal discussion over 15 minutes. The amount is up by nearly nearly $225,000 from the current approximate $11.6 million spending plan.

“For our total we are looking at a $11,784,238 budget or a 1.94 percent increase from last year’s,” Shorey said.

She explained the state contribution is down by about $142,000 (1 percent) to a figure of a little more than $6.3 million. Shorey said there are seven fewer students than in 2018-19, with most of the loss at the pre-K level.

“On the revenue side you will see a 1.51 percent increase to taxpayers from last year to this year,” the superintendent said.

The four RSU 68 communities have a combined local assessment of $4,704,087 for 2019-20, $69,518 more than the current year. The assessment is made up of local contributions, additional local monies and funding for adult education — items all approved during the district budget meeting.

The four total proposed assessments are each slightly up, with Charleston’s rising $4,322 to $632,840; Dover-Foxcroft’s share up by $39,318 to $2,819,954; Monson would see a $13,093 assessment increase for a total of $577,837; and for Sebec a $674,052 figure is $13,382 more than in 2018-19.

Full financial information is available on the RSU 68 homepage at www.sedomocha.org.