UNION, Maine — The proposed $22 million budget for School Administrative District 40 was approved Tuesday by voters in the five-town district.
With all towns reporting, the SAD 40 budget was approved 1,374 to 839.
The $22,056,614 budget for 2012-2013 is up 2.3 percent, or $567,000, from the 2011-2012 budget.
The budget will eliminate seven ed techs and a half-time language arts teacher from Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro.
The budget was backed in each of the five communities: Waldoboro, 617-427; Union, 342-164; Warren, 165-120; Washington, 129-68; and Friendship, 121-60.
Under the SAD 40 budget, Waldoboro will pay the school district an additional $199,134 in 2012-2013, bringing its payments to the SAD to $4.5 million. Warren’s costs will increase $159,198, reaching $3.3 million. Friendship will pay an additional $64,332, reaching more than $1.6 million. Union will pay $56,343 more, reaching more than $1.9 million. Washington will see the least increase, paying an added $51,767, reaching nearly $1.3 million.
???Why do voters keep passing these school budgets??? With all the complaining about taxes and with school budgets making up 2/3 of our property taxes why aren’t people standing up and voting no………………….makes no sense to me.
RSU 40 only pays less than half the cost of the district’s $22 million budget. The state picks up the other half. I would say the RSU 40 voters are getting a pretty good buy. Good for them for supporting education.
Because people still recognize the importance of education for our children, and are willing to endure a small percentage tax height to guarantee they are getting it. There are many other areas that could be cut back upon to keep your tax rate where it is. Education should not be one of them.