HAMPDEN, Maine — In addition to this year’s state primary elections, residents will be asked June 10 to validate the 2014-15 school budget for RSU 22 and to approve a town charter amendment that would update Hampden’s four council districts.
The proposed 2014-15 budget for RSU 22 totals $28,838,498 — up $503,289, or 1.78 percent, from this year’s budget — Superintendent Rick Lyons said Thursday. Because of lower state subsidies and increasing costs, the budget will require almost 5 percent more in local tax dollars from its four member towns.
Hampden’s share of next year’s school budget amounts to $5,928,752, up 5.2 percent from this year, Lyons said.
With regard to the charter change, state law requires the town reapportion its council districts in order to balance each district’s population as determined by the decennial census, Town Clerk Denise Hodsdon said earlier this year.
To that end, a committee that comprises town councilors and residents redrew the district boundaries so each contained roughly 25 percent of the town’s total population.
The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hampden Municipal Building’s community room.