To the Editor:
The Sheepscot Valley RSU 12 budget as recommended by the RSU 12 Board of Directors was approved at the Regional Budget Meeting on June 8. The next step in the approval process is to have the final amount be voted on by referendum. The date for the referendum vote is June 28, but absentee ballots are also now available at RSU 12 member-town town offices. There are three articles on the ballot.
The first article asks whether the voter approves the amount adopted at the June 8 Regional Budget Meeting. This amount is $26,511,203.50.
There is a breakdown in dollar amounts by cost center posted at the polling locations. Forty-six percent of the budget will be spent on regular instruction; 17 percent on special education; 5 percent will be spent on school administration and 2 percent of the budget will be spent on system administration (which includes the superintendent’s office, the business office, and the board of directors).
Further details about the RSU 12 budget can be found in the budget book available online at svrsu.org. There are also two links near the budget book link which lead to more readable versions of certain pages in the budget book.
The second article on the ballot asks if the voter wants to continue the two-step budget adoption process which is currently employed and includes approving the amounts at the regional budget meeting and then validating the budget with a referendum vote. A “yes” vote would continue the two-step process; a “no” vote would approve the budget in one step at the regional budget meeting.
The third article asks the voter to express their non-binding opinion of the budget amount. Is the budget amount of $26,511,203.50 “about right,” “too high,” or “too low.” The board requests this input in case the budget fails on June 28 and needs to be re-worked prior to another budget meeting and vote.
An excellent education and a nurturing home are the best foundations we can offer our children for a successful, happy life. Please take a few minutes out of your busy day and vote on the Sheepscot Valley RSU 12 Budget June 28.
