RSU 73 voters approve budget warrant articles; written ballot passes 39–1 on funds exceeding state model

David Doogie was nominated, seconded and sworn in as moderator at the RSU 73 regional school unit budget meeting held April 11, 2024, at Spruce Mountain High School. The meeting notice was read at the start, announcing the meeting was called to determine Articles 1–20 of the warrant for the towns in the unit (Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls).

The moderator outlined housekeeping rules, asked that questions and comments be directed to the moderator and moved to permit nonresidents to speak; that motion was seconded and carried by the required two‑thirds vote. The meeting then proceeded through the warrant articles in order, with routine voice votes approving most items after no substantive questions were raised.

Key budget items approved included Article 1 (regular instruction) for $9,418,007.04; Article 3 (career and technical education) at a recommended amount of $0; Article 15 approving $1,178,787.60 for the food service program with a $0 local share; and Article 16 approving $471,029.04 for adult education with a $198,000 local share. For most articles the moderator recorded a motion and second and, after seeing no questions or comments, called a voice vote. "Motion carries" was the repeated outcome for those items.

Article 13 required a written ballot because the school board’s recommended budget exceeds the state's Essential Programs and Services (EPS) allocation model by $3,804,003.26. After ballots were cast and counted by clerks, the count was announced as 39 yes and 1 no, so the written‑ballot article carried. The clerk and moderator supervised the ballot process and the count.

Other items approved included Article 17 (authorization to expend from an existing capital reserve or operations and plant fund as needed), Article 18 (authority to transfer amounts exceeding 5% among cost centers provided the total budget is not increased — clarified on request during discussion), and Article 19 (establishment of a non‑lapsing contingency fund with transfers of RSU balances above 9% by audit and delegation of expenditure authority to the school board in declared emergencies). Article 20 authorized the board to expend additional sums received from federal or state grants or other sources during the fiscal year.

Chairman Bob closed the meeting, thanked outgoing board members (Holly, Chantal/Chantelle and Joel) for their service, reminded members to sign required documents and noted the next meeting date and a forthcoming finance committee meeting. A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and the body was polled to adjourn.

The meeting record shows routine approval of the recommended budget items, the formal written‑ballot tally for the local funding excess (39–1) and several authorizations that permit the school board to manage transfers, contingency spending and grant receipts during the 2024–25 fiscal year.