BATH

A $28.3 million spending plan proposed by the Regional School Unit 1 board will go before residents at a district wide budget meeting later this month.

Three additions have been made to the 2017 budget since its first reading in March, including a lacrosse program at Bath Middle School for seventh and eighth graders, and an additional nursing day at Phippsburg Elementary School, all of which amounts to a little over $17,000.

According to RSU 1 Business Manager Debra Clark, the board also agreed to add a $3,000 Lego robotics program to the budget earlier this week.

While the program is currently offered to seventh and eighth graders at Woolwich Central School and BMS during class periods, the funding would transform it into an after-school program.

Despite saving $21,716 through a combination of resignations, replacements and benefits, Clark said the net savings for this year’s budget was around $1,010 following the addition of the three budget items.

Under the proposed spending plan, total expenses reflect an increase of 3.39 percent or $927,606 from last year’s figures, while local contribution carries a 3.44 percent increase.

Residents will vote on the spending plan at the district budget meeting on May 31, and again at their respective town polls for the budget validation referendum on June 14.

Local share

• ARROWSIC’S local share will increase 12.26 percent or $55,495 from last year, which will increase the town’s tax rate of $5.31 per $1,000 of assessed value by 75 cents to $6.06. The property owner with a home assessed at $100,000 would see a cost of $605.82, which includes an increase of $74.86.

• BATH’S local share will reflect an increase of $323,226 or 3.45 percent. The city’s tax rate of $10.49 per $1,000 of assessed value will increase by 43 cents to $10.92. A property owner with a home assessed at $100,000 would see a cost of $1,092.24, which includes an increase of $43.13.

• PHIPPSBURG’S local share will increase 1.71 percent or by $50,476, and the town’s tax rate of $4.79 per $1,000 of assessed value will increase 6 cents to $4.85. A property owner with a home assessed at $100,000 would see a cost of $485.26, which includes an increase of $5.83.

• WOOLWICH’S local share will reflect an increase of 3.72 percent or $139,004. The town’s tax rate of $10.19 per $1,000 of assessed value would increase by 48 cents to $10.67. A property owner with a home assessed at $100,000 would see a cost of $1,067.01, which includes an increase of $48.03.

dkim@timesrecord.com

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