TOPSHAM — Voters in School Administrative District 75 will vote June 12 on a proposed $37.9 million education budget.

The budget represents an increase of $538,438 – or 1.4 percent – from the current budget. The increase is partly the result of a loss of $295,739 in state subsidies.

Contributions from the district’s four towns are determined by enrollment numbers and property valuation. The total tax increase from the four towns is up $743,348, to $23.9 million. The breakdown per town is:

Topsham would see an increase of $566,100 – or 5.84 percent – for a total contribution of $10.2 million.

Bowdoinham is looking at a $120,189 increase – or 4.12 percent – for a total contribution of $3 million.

Bowdoin would see an increase of $74, 913 – or 2.63 percent – for a total contribution of $2.9 million.

Harpswell would actually see a decrease of $17,823, for a total contribution of $7.7 million.

Construction of a new Mt. Ararat High School won’t have an impact on next year’s budget. The $60.7 million project was approved by voters in March 2017, but the bond for project costs won’t be issued until the spring of 2019.

Also appearing on the June 12 referendum ballot will be a $1.56 million roof replacement project, which would pay for replacement of large portions of roof at Bowdoin Central School, Harpswell Community School, Williams Cone Elementary and Mt. Ararat Middle School.


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