WATERVILLE — Voters Tuesday will go to the polls to consider approving a proposed $20.3 million school budget for 2013-14.

The polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the American Legion hall at 21 College Ave.

Voters also will be asked if they want to continue the budget validation referendum process of voting on proposed school budgets for the next three years.

Voters every three years are asked that question on the school budget ballot.

City Clerk Patti Dubois said a general election such as the one being held Tuesday costs the city about $2,000, with most of that cost going to staffing.

As required by state law, the amount of the proposed school budget is not listed on the ballot itself, but is posted at the polls, according to Dubois.

She said she expects about 400 of the city’s registered voters to cast ballots Tuesday. The city has a little more than 10,000 registered voters, she said. About 20 people have already voted by absentee ballot, she added.

“We’ll probably end up with about a 4 percent turnout,” she said.

The proposed budget includes $293,000 for teacher retirement costs, in case state legislators approve a recommendation by Gov. Paul LePage that local municipalities fund part of teacher retirement costs. The $293,000 was taken from the school surplus account.

Meanwhile, school and city officials still do not know if a proposal by LePage to suspend revenue sharing to municipalities will be approved, or how much money schools will receive in state subsidy for the 2013-14 year.

The City Council on May 21 voted 5-1 to approve the proposed school budget. The Board of Education is expected to take a second and final vote on the plan in the coming weeks.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com