HODGDON – The high cost of energy once again drove up the proposed 2008-09 budget for SAD 70, and voters in the district will be able to review each line item in the more than $6.3 million budget with district officials during a public budget vote tonight.

This year’s budget is up $136,932, or 3.47 percent, over last year.

Tonight’s meeting is the first in a two-step process that has resulted from the school consolidation law requiring changes in school administration. One provision of the new legislation is for all school budgets to be presented in a line item format to be voted on at a budget meeting. Once the budget is approved, a referendum vote is held to determine whether to approve the action of the budget meeting.

SAD 70 consists of the towns of Hodgdon, Amity, Cary, Haynesville, Linneus, Ludlow and New Limerick.

Robert McDaniel, the superintendent in SAD 70, said the district made numerous cuts in order to cope with escalating costs for heating oil for the district’s buildings and diesel for its buses. Administrators in the district opted to forgo raises this year and also reduced the number of days they will work during the school year. The driver’s education program was eliminated, as were one bus run and some sports travel. Cuts also were made to staff training and general supplies.

The district opted to upgrade the lighting system with more efficient lights through a program offered by Efficiency Maine.

McDaniel said that several “big ticket” items are featured in the budget, including the resurfacing of the gymnasium floor at Hodgdon High School and the financing of a new bus.

“We wanted to do the best we could to preserve the programs that we have while still offering a great education to our students,” McDaniel said. “We feel that we have a fiscally responsible budget to present to taxpayers.”

The meeting begins at 7 tonight in the gym at Hodgdon High School.

The referendum vote is set for June 10.

jlbdn@ainop.com

532-9257