ROCKLAND, Maine — A proposed $25.2 million Regional School Unit 13 budget goes back to the polls after 50 residents gave their stamp of approval Thursday evening.
The turnout was far fewer than the nearly 200 who turned out May 21 for the first districtwide budget vote. That $25.9 million budget was rejected at the polls on June 9.
The referendum on this scaled-back package of $25,240,636 will go to residents for a yes or no vote at the polls in Rockland, Thomaston, Owls Head, South Thomaston and Cushing on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Unlike the first districtwide budget meeting where there was considerable debate and motions to make cuts, there was no debate and only a handful of questions on Thursday night. The meeting lasted 42 minutes.
The revised budget voted on Thursday will require about $1 million less in property taxes from the five communities than the budget rejected last month. This was achieved through a combination of spending cuts and added revenues, largely more state aid.
Several vacant staff positions will not be filled, but no one will lose their job because of resignations and retirements.
With the changes, the amount of additional property taxes needed from the largest RSU 13 community of Rockland would be limited to $700,000, about half of what originally had been proposed. This means a person owning a Rockland home assessed at $150,000 would pay about $135 more in annual taxes.
At the previous meeting, Thomaston selectmen and Rockland city councilors called for cuts. Thomaston selectmen met Wednesday night in a special meeting but took no position on the budget. The City Council has taken no stand on the revised package.