DEXTER – SAD 46 directors gave the green light on Wednesday to a 2005-06 budget that will lower the assessments to the local communities of Dexter, Exeter, Garland and Ripley.

The proposed budget will now go before voters at a June referendum.

At their final workshop the previous night, directors tweaked the budget by reducing the administration’s and the board of directors’ accounts to the same level of funding as this year.

Even though the $9,036,956 budget reflects an increase of $194,056 over this year’s budget, the assessments have been reduced by $64,686 collectively, SAD 46 Superintendent Les Butler said Wednesday.

Butler reported earlier this month that directors applied about $250,000 in carry-over to offset expenditures. That savings was the result of a freeze on spending in the district early on when preliminary state subsidy figures indicated the district would take a significant financial hit under the proposed legislation.

In the end, however, the district benefited from recent legislative changes in the school funding formula. The district received $5.2 million in subsidy this year and will receive $5.3 million in 2005-06, he said earlier.

To receive that level of subsidy, taxpayers will be asked to raise $1,872,542 as the foundation allocation. In addition, taxpayers will be asked to raise $277,158 locally without a state match. The local option includes Reading Recovery funds, physical education and Day Treatment positions.

Also approved on Wednesday was a $47,547 adult education budget.