The Regional District #11 Board of Education at their May 21 meeting approved a budget level with the current year’s spending to send to tri-town voters.  The initial proposal, a .9% increase, was rejected by the district’s taxpayers on May 7. Though Chaplin approved the spending plan 89-26, Hampton defeated it 113 – 160, and Scotland, 57 – 165, for a cumulative total of 259 in favor, and 351 opposed.

Though the amount allocated for legal expenses increased in the second proposal by $25,529, as did transportation by $44,800, the new budget reduced a position in the Business Department by $12,798 and eliminated two special education paraprofessionals for an additional $35,504. There was also a $75,000 reduction in health insurance due to personnel changes.

The anticipated surplus as the fiscal year comes to a close is $50,000 – $100,000 to add to the audited fund balance of $266,157. There was no discussion at the board meeting on applying a portion of that surplus to the towns’ assessments, which was a possibility raised by taxpayers.

The $6,422,464 budget proposal will be voted by referendum on June 4.