RICHMOND — Residents in Regional School Unit 2 approved a $25.9 million budget for the upcoming school year.

The vote came at a regional meeting held at Richmond High School that attracted about 80 people.

Every article was adopted as proposed.

A 59-8 vote in the lone secret ballot article approved raising $3.3 million in additional local funds to support the schools.

Those funds go toward maintaining teacher-student ratios, co-curricular and extracurricular programs and transportation.

The district has 2,131 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

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Voters from Dresden, Farmingdale, Hallowell, Monmouth and Richmond gathered to vote on the warrant, and their decision sends the budget to a validation vote at the polls June 9 in all those municipalities.

The regional meeting began with Superintendent Virgel Hammonds standing in the aisle of the gym giving an abbreviated version of how the budget was prepared and how a decreased state subsidy means that the schools will cost the communities more this year.

He described efforts by the board to save money on energy costs and the decision to use some money refunded by the state retirement system to reduce the amount of money needed to be raised.

“I’m really proud of the budget this year,” Hammonds said.

“We’re dealing here with $26 million and also an investment in our youth as well,” said Frederic Browne, of Richmond, who serves on the town’s budget committee.

Browne said he’s seen improvement in the Richmond schools over the past year where he’s worked as a substitute teacher since 2010.

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Here are the numbers of people present registered to vote at the meeting by town, according to the municipal clerks:

Dresden: 19;

Farmingdale: 5;

Hallowell: 15;

Monmouth: 14; and

Richmond: 17.

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Lavender pieces of paper served as ballot cards for 17 articles.

Michail Grizkewitsch, of Richmond, a former selectman and school board member, questioned some budget figures and raised a concern about poor conditions he found in a bathroom at Richmond during an event.

His son, Michail Grizkewitsch III, said the siding is falling off the side of the Richmond high school gym.

Hammonds said the district has $60 million worth of property but generally only $100,000 for capital improvements.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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