SAD 63 budget hearing to be held in Holden

HOLDEN – SAD 63’s annual budget meeting is set for 7 p.m. today at the Holbrook Middle School gym and is an opportunity for district residents to see where their tax dollars are being spent before Tuesday’s referendum vote.

The proposed SAD 63 budget for 2007-08 is $9,025,479, an increase of $362,069 over this year’s $8.66 million budget.

At the same time, the preliminary state funding estimate for the district is $5.2 million, which is $385,959 more than this year, according to the Department of Education’s Web site dated April 24 and SAD 63 budget documents.

The state funds will be added to an estimated Medicare interest of $75,000 and a $150,000 fund balance rollover, which makes the 2007-08 local assessment $3,599,324, an increase of $65,152 over last year’s figure.

Residents of Holden, Eddington and Clifton, which compose SAD 63, will split the local assessment amount with Holden paying $1,947,958, Eddington $1,097,246, and Clifton $501,758.

For residents in Eddington, the amount of tax dollars is decreasing by $7,135, while Holden will see an increase of $52,362 and in Clifton, $19,926.

“The actual state value for Clifton and Holden went up higher for a percentage than Eddington,” business manager Yvonne Mitchell said Tuesday, explaining the differences.

The following is how the individual budget lines are projected to increase or decrease under the draft 2007-08 budget:

. Prekindergarten through eighth-grade instruction increased by $153,845 from $3,071,000 to $3,224,845.

. Instructional support decreased by $19,531 from $308,283 to $288,752.

. Leadership increased by $41,039 from $830,625 to $871,664.

. Operations increased by $42,030 from $648,339 to $690,369.

. Transportation increased by $22,843 from $513,784 to $536,627.

. Other commitments increased by $120,843 from $3,291,379 to $3,412,222.

The state school funding figures are preliminary because this year they are tied to Gov. John Baldacci’s $6.4 billion biennial budget plan for 2007-09.

The Legislature approved the state budget late Wednesday night, and final school subsidy figures are pending.

After reviewing the annual budget tonight, residents will cast their ballots in the budget validation referendum Tuesday, June 12, during local elections.

Tuesday’s voting in Holden starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m., and will take place 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Clifton town hall and at the Eddington town office.