OAKLAND — Regional School Unit 18’s budget was approved Tuesday night in all of the district’s five towns.

The vote was, 982-558, about 64 percent approval. About 9 percent of the 13,910 registered voters in Oakland, China, Belgrade, Rome and Sidney, which comprise RSU 18, cast ballots.

Voters also approved a bond issue to renovate several of the district’s schools and to keep the referendum method of budget approval for the next three years.

The budget had the most support in China, similar to last year, where it passed 162-67. In Belgrade, it passed 188-114; in Oakland, 353-208; in Rome, 82-45; and in Sidney, 197-124. It had initially passed in a district-wide meeting May 12.

This year’s spending plan is an increase of 0.65 percent from the 2015-16 budget. The additional $223,000 is needed for items such as supplies and books, said Gary Smith, the district superintendent.

A $340,930 bond issue for health and safety renovations in several of the district’s schools passed with an overall vote of 1,120-414. The Belgrade vote was 219-79; China, 183-44; Oakland, 406-155; Rome 85-42; Sidney, 227-94.

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The decision to keep referendums passed by a total of 1,022-499. In Belgrade it was approved 201-98; China, 150-74; Oakland, 380-177; Rome, 83-42; Sidney 208-108.

Voters had mixed opinions about the school budget increase, which brought the total budget to $34.6 million, as they went to the polls Tuesday.

Chance Carlson, 44, said the increase was necessary because of the way funding is provided by the state.

Stephanie Miller, 41, has two children in the RSU 18 system. She thinks it was “a pretty even budget this year” and that, even compared to other towns, it isn’t a lot. She’s also happy with the programs her children get, she said, so she voted to approve the budget today in Oakland.

Last year the initial budget proposal of $34.7 million, a 2.7 percent increase from 2014-15’s budget, didn’t pass so easily. It was voted down 747-619. The board proposed another budget of $34.4 million, 1.9 percent higher than the 2014-15 budget, which passed with 55 percent of votes. The increase was largely paid for by local property taxpayers because of higher property valuations and reduced state aid.

While the increase was smaller this year, some voters still didn’t want the budget to pass.

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Ron Rodrigue, 62, voting in Oakland, said he voted against it because the budget is “too top-heavy.”

“They say it’s about the kids, but it isn’t,” Rodrigue said. He also voted to keep the final school budget validation at the polls instead of the district meeting.

Scott MacDonald, 42, agreed and said the budget is “ridiculous” and “needs to be gone through with somebody who understands business.”

Sherry Gilbert, a teacher for 38 years who’s now retired, also voted against the budget in Oakland. She said voting at polls is better than a meeting, because “a lot of people are afraid to put their hands up and say no.” She also disagreed with a 4.5 percent raise in the superintendent’s salary that the board approved.

Administrative spending at RSU 18 is comparable to other Maine school districts’, according to Smith.

The budget data on RSU 18’s website supports Smith, showing that system administration spending — which covers the superintendent’s office, the school board and the business office — makes up 2.26 percent of the total budget and actually decreased by 1.74 percent. The latest data from the state show an average of 2.98 percent in 2013-14 across Maine.

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School administration spending, which covers principals and their offices, makes up 5.39 percent of the budget, while the state average is 5.23 percent.

Money spent on teachers at RSU 18 exceeds the state average of 40.68 percent — in this budget it’s 45.61 percent.

An earlier version of this story contained incorrect vote totals for Oakland.

Madeline St. Amour – 861-9239

mstamour@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @madeline_violet


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