Hancock voters approve $50,000 addition to Special Education Reserve; recorded ballot required

Hancock voters on June 17 approved an amendment to Article 19 that adds $50,000 in additional local funds to a Special Education Reserve, an amount identified as $50,000 over the State's Essential Programs and Services (EPS) allocation model. The School Committee and the Budget Committee recommended the measure to cover unanticipated special-education costs not included in the previously approved budget.

Resident Robin Stratton moved to approve the corrected article as written; Resident Bill Birdsall seconded. The motion passed by recorded tally 57–0. The warrant notes the vote must be taken by recorded ballot under state statute. The article authorizes adjustments to the school operating budget articles previously approved and permits the School Committee to transfer the approved sum to the Special Education Reserve Fund and expend from that fund as needed at the discretion of the School Committee.

State-mandated explanatory language accompanied the article, stating that 'additional local funds' are locally raised funds above the Town's contribution as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act and may include local amounts for non-state-funded debt service that help achieve the school budget. The meeting record does not include verbatim statements from the School Committee or public commenters on the issue.

The amendment was submitted and recorded by Town Clerk Cheryl A. Robinson.