Topsham
Voters in Bowdoinham, Bowdoin, Topsham, and Harpswell approved Maine School Administrative District 75’s $39.7 million spending plan.
Topsham voters overwhelmingly approved the school budget, with 1,965 in favor and 442 opposed. Bowdoinham had 604 yes-votes to 156 opposed. Support was strong in Harpswell, with 1,308 in favor and 247 against the budget. Bowdoin were resoundingly in favor with 402 “yes” votes and 176 “no” votes.
The $37.9 million budget has an increase in spending of $538,438 – or 1.4 percent – from the previous budget. Impacting the budget is 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.
Topsham would see an increase of 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.
There was a second article on the MSAD 75 referendum. District voters were asked to approve a $1.56 million roof replacement bond. The project funds will go to construct, renovate, or repair roofs at Bowdoin Central School, Harpswell Community School, Williams Cone Elementary and Mt. Ararat Middle School.
Voters in all four towns approved the second article. Topsham approved the bond 1,953 to 408. Bowdoinham voted 595 to 169, Bowdoin 395-192 while Harpswell also approved with a vote of 1,322 to 265.
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