CLAREMONT — Voters easily passed all articles on the school district warrant on Tuesday including a $38.2 million budget and two $500,000 capital reserve funds for bus repair and replacement and building repair and renovation.
School Board member Jason Benware was elated with the outcome. Every article passed by more than 200 votes and received ward-by-ward approval.
“I am blown away and I am grateful to the voters for the faith and trust they have in the board to present a budget that makes sense for students,” Benware said at Disnard Elementary School after totaling the results in all three wards. “I can’t thank them enough.”
The budget, which includes a three-year teachers contract that will increase the starting salary to more than $40,000, passed 663-374.
Also approved by margins of more than 2-to-1 were contracts for secretaries, maintenance and transportation employees and paraprofessionals.
The reserve funds and $1.5 million in the budget for capital projects were part of $2.9 million in one-time state revenue the district will receive next year, and the School Board strongly urged voters to support the spending so the district can address deferred maintenance.
“If you have money to make repairs, you do it when you have the ability and not hope to do it later on down the road,” Benware said.
Several capital improvement projects including roofs, the Dow building that houses SAU 6 offices, heating and ventilation and security upgrades are expected to be completed with the $1.5 million in the budget.
The budget and other appropriations are projected to decrease the school tax rate by 56 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
The proposed budget represents an increase of 9.14% in spending, or $2.9 million, but total non-tax revenues were up $3.8 million. Part of the one-time money — $400,000 each of the next two years — will offset taxes.
Also in the budget is $421,000 for the first year of a three-year teachers contract and the addition of four teachers at the middle school so students can have three years of science and social studies in grades 6-8.
School Board members Frank Sprague and Mike Petrin were reelected in uncontested races.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@msn.com
