KENNEBUNK — The proposed $37.2 million RSU 21 budget will head to voters after receiving support from the board of directors.
The board voted in support of the budget April 11, and the district budget meeting will now be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Kennebunk Elementary School, followed by the budget referendum on Tuesday, May 14, when residents of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel will vote in their respective communities.
The $37.2 million budget represents a 3.5 percent increase over last year. To lessen the impact of an increase in health insurance costs, an anticipated drop of $766,865 in state general purpose aid, and an increase of $448,134 in retirement costs previously covered by the state, a total of $1.2 million will be taken from the district's general fund balance and a total of 12 staff members will face a reduction of hours or elimination of their positions.
During the April 11 meeting, director Diane Robbins expressed concern that the district will not be able to sustain taking money out of the general fund balance and what that could mean in the years to come.
"Next year, this is going to be shell shock to taxpayers," she said. "It's not sustainable."
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