NEWPORT, Maine — Selectmen heard a presentation Wednesday night that was similar to one that RSU 19 Superintendent William Braun has been spreading throughout much of the district: Your taxes will rise.
Because of a rise in valuation, Newport’s school assessment will be $1.6 million in this budget cycle, $155,545 over last year’s payment.
Braun said the $22.8 million budget, which represents a $459,370 increase over last year’s, was partially offset by federal stimulus money. But the superintendent also warned that the RSU would be scrambling for extra local money in two years when the stimulus money is no longer available.
That, he told the board, combined with a continued rise in Newport’s valuation, could mean a very large increase for Newport in 2011.
The budget will be voted on in a district meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 15, at Nokomis Regional High School. A referendum will be held on June 23 in each of the district’s eight towns.
RSU 19 is receiving $336,000 in what federal stimulus funds — and that was used to offset local taxation.
As proposed, the 2009-10 budget would see increases of $83,069 in Corinna; $155,545 in Newport; $61,402 in Palmyra; and $87,897 in St. Albans.
Dixmont’s assessment would drop by $22,207; Etna’s by $41,688; Hartland’s by $85,3345; and Plymouth’s by $5,562.
Braun explained that the RSU saved approximately $1.3 million by consolidating the two districts, mostly by combining administrators and service providers.
He said RSU 19 will be spending $208,000 below what the state has determined is necessary for essential services. He said that places RSU 19 fifth from the bottom in the state in per pupil expenditures.
RSU 19 comprises six SAD 48 towns — Corinna, Newport, Plymouth, Hartland, St. Albans, and Palmyra, and two SAD 38 towns — Etna and Dixmont.
Newport Selectman Roger Carr asked whether Hartland’s debt — about $850,000 — to the school district would affect the other towns.
Braun explained that Hartland has two weeks in which to pay its debt before the district begins a lawsuit in Penobscot County Superior Court. “On July 1, their bill becomes an account receivable,” Braun said. “No other town will have to pick up any portion of their debt.”
The board also decided to proceed with engineering quotes for installing a steel safety cage at the North Street Dam. Last month, Public Works Director Larry Merrithew was nearly decapitated when a chain holding the dam gate open snapped and barely missed his head.
The board recently discussed installing a cable rather than a chain system, but Town Manager James Ricker said, “Operator safety takes precedence over a cable system,” referring to expenses.
The selectmen were adamant that no one should be working at the gate or adjusting the gate until a cage has been installed.
A special town meeting will be held this summer, and the board said the cage project would be on that warrant, as well as a land easement, and the use of cemetery funds for restorations.
In other business, more than 40 bids for town surplus property — wooden and aluminum docks, floats, a lawn mower, boat and trailer — were opened and contracts awarded.
The board also decided to hold its summer meetings on July 15 and Aug. 19.