TURNER — For a second year, Maine School Administrative District 52, based in Turner, approved the school budget by a narrow vote of 235-219. With only a 16-vote difference that margin is thinner than the 45-vote margin last year.
The majority of Greene voters rejected the school budget, 60-69, but it was not enough to offset those affirmative voters in Leeds and Turner. It was the second year in a row most voters rejected the school budget in that town.
The approved budget is $37.36 million, a roughly 6.8% increase compared to the current school year’s $35 million budget. It was a difficult budget season for a school board that seemed apprehensive to cut teaching positions but felt they had to in hopes of winning over voters.
The share Turner, Greene and Leeds are responsible to raise locally is $16.53 million, a 7.5% increase compared to the current school year’s $15.38 million, meeting the board’s goal of keeping that figure’s increase below 8%.
Turner’s share of the budget is $8.02 million, Greene’s share is $5.47 million and Leeds’ share is $3.04 million.
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