August, 2024
To the Oxford Hills Community,
At the recent school budget referendum on August 6th, the MSAD#17 budget failed to pass for a second time by approximately 107 votes, with 1299 citizens voting. The second budget included cuts of approximately $820,00 to instruction, and the elimination of $2,000,000 for deferred maintenance on facilities projects. The budget was approved by the towns of Hebron, Norway, Otisfield, and Waterford, and was rejected by Harrison, Oxford, Paris, and West Paris.
Prior to the referendum, the District Budget Meeting was held on July 23rd. At that meeting, the overall budget passed by a healthy margin: 93 votes in favor and 11 votes opposed.
Unfortunately, there is misinformation shared in the community about the budget. Here are some important points to clarify to make sure that you have the most accurate information:
The budget presented to the community supports the annual operating costs for the school district.
The district will seek a bond for capital improvements. These capital improvements are not in the operating budget.
The school district is engaged in 2 school construction projects, one elementary project and one middle school project. Long-term decisions about these projects are unrelated to this budget referendum.
The school construction projects follow the state-mandated process, which includes community engagement, concept approval, and a community referendum. This process is lengthy and takes approximately 5-7 years.
The decision about the new school projects will be made after more community input and after a district-wide referendum. Contrary to some misinformation, no decisions have been made at this time.
As we begin to formulate further reductions to the proposed budget, it is important for us to gather additional information about community priorities. We want to bring forward a budget that will pass in the referendum, as each budget election costs taxpayers approximately $10,000.
We would appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete this Budget Survey.
Sincerely,
Heather Manchester, Superintendent of Schools
Troy Ripley, Chair Budget Committee
Kelly Jacobson, MSAD#17 Board of Directors