TOPSHAM

Only 44 voters attended a School Administrative District 75 district-wide budget meeting Thursday where they approved a $37.57 million spending plan for 2016- 17.

District residents now get to vote “yes” or “no” on the budget at their local polling places on June 14, known as the budget validation referendum.

The SAD 75 board of directors recommended the $37,574,538 budget. The total local share is $22 million — an increase of $489,021 or 2.22 percent. The overall budget is a 1.77 percent or $652,395 increase.

The school district will lose $440,280 or 1.2 percent in state subsidy, according to Business Manager Steve Dyer.

Due to dropping enrollment, school officials propose to cut two classroom teacher positions. They plan to keep the school resource officer, add a classroom teacher at Williams-Cone School, add a district office administrator for an hour a day, contract for a full-time teacher of the deaf and a half-time interpreter, add money for increased out- of- district transportation costs, replace two vans and purchase diagnostic tools to better assess repair needs of district vehicles.

Based on this proposed spending plan, the local contribution increase could be divided amongst the four communities in SAD 75 as follows:

• A 2.24 percent or $60,160 increase for Bowdoin

• A 2.22 percent or $ 60,598 increase of Bowdoinham

• A 0.84 percent or $64,159 increase for Harpswell

• A 3.41 percent or $304,103 increase for Topsham

There were 20 articles on the meeting warrant which residents voted on, followed by a final summary vote on approval of the budget. One article had to be amended due to a typo.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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