BINGHAM — School Administrative District 13 residents in Bingham and Moscow will consider a third budget tonight.

The district budget meeting is set for 7 p.m. at Quimby Middle School in Bingham.

Department heads, Superintendent Virginia Rebar and members of the school board have cut approximately $98,000 from the original $3.1 million budget voters have rejected twice.

The new budget to be voted on tonight is $3,019,075, which is $29,000 less than last year’s budget. Rebar was away from her office Monday and did not have the final breakdown for taxpayers in each of the two towns.

The proposed cuts include savings on the salary of longtime principal Linda MacKenzie, who is leaving the district for a job in the Millinocket School Department. MacKenzie was principal of all three district schools — the middle school, Moscow Elementary and Upper Kennebec Valley High School.

A social worker also was cut from the budget and the district got a good price on heating fuel, Rebar said in July.

Three of the newly hired employees are first-year teachers who will start at entry-level salaries.

The proposed spending package failed in a July referendum 153-113.

It was the second time district voters approved the spending at a public budget meeting only to reject it in the privacy of the ballot box. The same spending package was rejected by four votes at a June referendum.

In the meantime, the district is operating on the most recently approved budget of $3.1 million, as mandated by state law.

The secret ballot vote on the budget approved tonight is set for Tuesday, Aug. 28.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

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