$16.4M SAD 46 budget approved for June 14 referendum

DEXTER — A proposed $16,425,377 SAD 46 budget for the 2022-23 academic year was approved at the annual district meeting on June 2 at the Ridge View Community School. 

The spending package total will go to a referendum in Dexter, Exeter, Garland and Ripley on Tuesday, June 14, with residents of the four communities making a district-wide decision.

The June 14 referendum poll schedule is from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town hall for Dexter residents, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Exeter at the town office and from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. in the Garland Community Center for these respective residents. In Ripley, voters can stop by the Courser Memorial School from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Superintendent Kevin Jordan said the near $16.4 million figure for the proposed school budget is up by $849,088 (5.45 percent) from the current year’s total of $15,576,289.

He said the district always has various maintenance and repair items included in the budget but in 2022-23 there would be two larger expenses for needed upgrades. The superintendent said the Dexter Regional High School chairlift will no longer pass inspection and needs to be replaced with an elevator for $200,000.

Speaking about Ridge View, Jordan said, “Half of our upstairs is air conditioned so in this budget is money to air condition the other half.” The project cost is $88,200.

“Much like all of you at home, we are anticipating increases in diesel fuel, No. 2 heating oil and electricity,” he said. He estimated these respective costs at $30,000, $54,200 and $72,250 for the ensuing fiscal year.

In 2022-23, SAD 46 is scheduled to receive $11,491,064 in state subsidy. This is $500,000-plus more than the current figure of just more than $10,955,000.

“Essentially there is no increase to the taxpayers of SAD 46,” Jordan said about the combined assessment to the two dozen voters gathered in the gym. He said there will be some slight differences in individual community contributions to the budget.

The superintendent said between about $2,760,000 in local required monies, nearly $330,000 in local additional funds, $75,000 for food service, approximately $37,000 for local-only debt service and SAD 41’s $68,185 proportional share of the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative budget, the local assessment is $3,269,494. This sum is 86 cents less than the year before, and Jordan said the local portion of the budget has remained the same for the last three years.

Dexter would see a $29,275 decrease (1.521 percent) for a figure of $1,895,617 under the proposed finances. Exeter’s $574,726 share is up by $139 (0.024 percent), Garland would have a $20,865 (4.514 percent) increase to $483,050, and for Ripley a $82,690 (2.687 percent) would bring its portion of the 2022-23 SAD 46 budget to $316,099.

Jordan said the June 14 referendum would include two questions in addition to voting on the $16.4 million budget.

SAD 46 is eligible to receive approximately $375,000 from the Maine Department of Education’s School Revolving Renovation Fund for upgrades to replace a portion of the high school roof.

In order to receive the money from the state, the district would need to contribute $175,000 toward the project but this would be bonded over 10 years at a 0 percent interest rate.

“It really is a fantastic deal to upgrade our facilities,” Jordan said.

In 2016, SAD 46 was approved for $685,600 from the School Revolving Renovation Fund to fix another portion of the roof at Dexter Regional High School. The district had 70 percent of the costs forgiven, needing to only pay $205,680 over 10 years — $20,568 annually — at 0 percent interest.

Residents will be asked if they would like to continue with the district budget meeting/referendum process for another three years or instead have the district budget meeting be the final step in adopting the spending plan. A “yes” vote favors having a referendum and a “no” vote will discontinue the budget validation referendum for the next three years.

In 2019, SAD 46 residents voted 232-100 to continue with a referendum to validate the school budget for an additional three years.

The near $16.4 million 2022-23 budget figure was approved across 18 warrant articles with minimal discussion in approximately 15 minutes by the two dozen residents in attendance. The warrant included items such as the budget total and local option monies, approved by a majority via written ballot.