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Residents within AOS 77 expressed their concern about any tax increases by voting down the major portion of the Sunrise County School System 2015B16 budget at the May 13 budget meeting in Perry. The system administration article for $459,787 was defeated by a vote of 20 in favor and 24 against. The two other budget articles were passed, with residents approving the special education amount of $134,273 by a vote of 25 to 17 and the transportation amount of $31,661 by a vote of 30 to 16.
Kenneth Johnson, the new AOS superintendent, notes that there was "some emotion in the room," as citizens were concerned about the impact of the budget on their local property taxes. Although the total AOS budget of $631,472 is $840 less than the current year's budget, the amount paid by each of the nine towns will be increasing, since Robbinston will no longer be in the AOS this coming year. Robbinston's 10% share is being divided up among the remaining towns of Alexander, Baring, Charlotte, Crawford, Dennysville, Eastport, Lubec, Pembroke and Perry. The increases for the towns would range from 3.9%, or $22,847, for Baring to 20%, or $118,463, for Perry.
Johnson says the discussion was mostly informative, with citizens asking questions about the budget, the administrative costs and the number of students in the schools.
The AOS school board was scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 21, to reconsider the budget. |
