PRESQUE ISLE – Voters in SAD 1 towns will gather on Wednesday to consider next year’s $15.9 million budget.

The district includes Castle Hill, Chapman, Mapleton, Presque Isle and Westfield. The annual district meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Presque Isle High School cafeteria.

Funding for the budget includes an increase of $638,821 in state aid, according to school officials.

“This is the second year in a row that we’ve got more funding,” said Jeffrey Bearden, assistant superintendent for business.

The overall budget proposal contains a 4.5 percent increase, much of which will pay for cost of living adjustments, building repairs and the lease-purchase of five new school buses.

Although the proposed budget would keep the local tax rate for education at $11.30 per $1,000 of valuation, it would generate an increase of $44,550, according to Superintendent Gehrig T. Johnson’s budget message.

To fund the spending plan, the district will receive from the state $9.4 million for general education and $59,500 for adult education.

Property tax revenue will generate $4.9 million for general education and $65,000 for adult education.

There’s about $1.4 million in other expected receipts.

Included in the new budget is $140,000 as the first payment on a new garage that will house up to 24 buses.

The project’s total cost has been estimated at $1 million, according to Bearden.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2002 on the same site on Parsons Street where the existing garage is located.

Since the project is a transportation cost, the state will begin reimbursing the school district in 2004 for the expense,Bearden explained.

The district plans to pay for the bus garage over 10 years, but the entire cost will be reimbursed by the state in 12 years, he said.

Other major projects are replacing the roofs on Presque Isle High School and Mapleton Elementary School.

Employee salary increases and the rising cost of health insurance will account for 81 percent of the budget increase.

The budget also includes funds for one new social worker for the elementary school and two new special education aides at the elementary and secondary levels.

According to Johnson, decreasing enrollment continues to be a problem. However, the superintendent said that the district is able to operate with a tax rate and per-pupil cost that is below the state and county average.

“My hope is that we have met the challenge of preparing a budget that will allow us to meet the students’ needs as well as continue the proud tradition of excellence in education in MSAD 1,” said Johnson’s budget message.