PARIS — The Select Board on Tuesday approved issuing a public notice urging residents to vote no June 11 on the $51.6 million Maine School Administrative District 17.

The board directed Town Manager Natalie Andrews to draft a public notice, similar to one approved by the Oxford Select Board on May 23 and forwarded to the Paris board.

During the SAD 17 public hearing and validation vote for the budget on May 14, voters approved adding $2 million to the district’s capital reserve account, to be funded from the local share. With the addition of the $2 million, total spending in the budget is $53.6 million, an increase of 11.7% from the current year.

Oxford’s public notice urges residents to vote no on the school district’s budget referendum during the statewide primary June 11 “given the unprecedented increase proposed by this year’s MSAD 17 budget.”

The public notice reads that the board “simply ask that MSAD 17 produce a more realistic and fiscally responsible budget.”

“I like what’s here,” Selectman Peter Kilgore said. “I just want to get it out to the public.”

The referendum question will read: “Do you favor approving the Maine School Administrative No. 17 budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the latest District budget meeting?”

Polls will be open at the Paris fire station from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 11.

Andrews has said that if the budget passes as proposed, Paris’ share will increase by $802,508, or 22.84%. The town is attempting to work with the school district to modify the budget warrant prior to voting, Andrews said by phone Thursday.

“Ultimately our goal is to work with the district,” she said.

The warrant article will not be changed “as voters overwhelmingly approved it at the district budget forum on May 14,” SAD 17 Superintendent Heather Manchester said by email Thursday.

“If the budget does not pass, we will adjust the budget by making cuts and re-engaging in the process,” Manchester wrote.

Andrews also provided the board with a letter from town attorney Kristin Collins who advises that the $2 million to be raised for the district’s capital reserve fund should have been included in the total cost-center budget, not as a separate article on the referendum warrant, number 19.

Collins further states that article 20 asks voters to give the “school board unfettered authority to spend money out of that (capital reserve) fund.” She argues that the reserve fund must include a description, according to state law.

The district is requesting $2 million this year and is expected to repeat the request annually over about the next decade. There is no available plan detailing priorities and projects.

The $2 million is the first piece of a multiyear plan to tackle maintenance and repairs to all eight elementary schools in the district.

In other news, town auditor Ron Smith, of RHR Smith & Company, detailed his report for fiscal year 2022-2023, telling the Select Board that Paris is in “good fiscal shape.” He said the town’s undesignated fund balance has increased from about $2.1 million to $2.6 million, as of the end of last fiscal year, mainly because of unspent funds and an increase in excise tax and revenue-sharing from the state.

Smith said the town has enough money in the undesignated fund balance to cover Paris’ operating expenses for longer than 90 days.

“You’re about $400,000 higher than where that benchmark is,” Smith said. “I would certainly say that your financial condition is sound and healthy for the town.”

Smith also reminded the board about infrastructure funds that will soon be distributed by the federal government as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Also on Tuesday, the board approved closing the Town Office on Friday, June 28, to close out the fiscal year, appointed Keith Rudman to the town’s public utility district, and approved a two-year contract with Dead River Company to lock in propane prices for up to 12,000 gallons per year at $1.4815.

Paris will hold its annual town meeting at the fire station at 6 p.m. June 17.

The next meeting of the Select Board will be held at Town Office at 6:30 p.m. June 10.