MADISON — Voters in Madison will have the opportunity Monday to weigh in on the proposed $11.32 million budget for Maine School Administrative District 59.
The district’s budget validation meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Main Street Middle School at 205 Main St.
Officials from the district, which enrolls students from Madison, are expected to give an informational presentation at 6 p.m., before the validation meeting.
The proposed $11,320,745 spending plan represents an increase of about $308,000, or 2.8% more than the budget approved last year.
The amount raised by Madison taxpayers is expected to increase by about 6.17%, from about $4.97 million to $5.28 million, according to budget documents. That is in part because the state’s allocation for the district decreased by about $313,000, from about $5.5 million to $4.74 million. The state funding is calculated using several factors, including property valuation, poverty metrics and student enrollment.
Leaders of other central Maine school districts have blamed the state funding formula, among a “perfect storm” of other factors, included in budgets prepared this spring.
According to budget documents, expenses related to instruction would increase about 1.33% in the proposed spending plan, from approximately $4.56 million to $4.62 million. That figure includes negotiated salaries and benefits for classroom teachers.
Special education services would increase about 4.62%, from about $1.85 million to $1.93 million. Many costs are related to services required under federal law, according to budget documents.
School administrative costs would increase 31.83%, from about $623,000 to $821,000. The costs include salaries and benefits for three principals, an assistant principal and the equivalent of 6 1/2 full-time secretaries, plus the costs to run each office.
District administrative costs, which include the superintendent’s office and the district’s business office, would increase 8.17%, from about $383,000 to $415,000.
Spending in other areas, including student and support staff and facilities maintenance, is set to decrease slightly in the proposed budget.
Residents are expected to vote June 11 on the budget’s final approval at the district validation referendum. Polls are scheduled to be open that day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Old Point Avenue School at 108 Old Point Ave. in Madison.
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