Voters in Bath, West Bath, Arrowsic, Phippsburg, Woolwich back RSU 1 budget

BATH — Voters in the five communities of Regional School Unit 1 ratified a $25 million fiscal 2010 budget 424-141 in a referendum on Tuesday.

Bath backed the budget 124-22; Arrowsic, 38-4; Phippsburg, 122-50; West Bath, 66-44, and Woolwich, 74-21.

"I just think that we have citizens that deeply care about making sure their kids get a great education," Superintendent William Shuttleworth said. "And I also think that they must feel that this budget was pretty well-crafted, given the economic times that we live in."

The budget shows an approximately 1 percent drop from current spending. Still, the $16.4 million to be raised in taxes is rising 0.74 percent, or about $120,000.

The local contribution is spread across the five communities by a formula specific to RSU 1: one-third property valuation, one-third student enrollment and one-third population of the community.

Bath sees a decrease of 1.59 percent (about $126,000), while the other communities see increases: Arrowsic, 13.62 percent (about $58,000), Phippsburg, 0.94 percent (about $27,000), West Bath 2.99 percent (about $73,000) and Woolwich 3.36 percent (about $87,000).

The budget was initially approved in a district-wide meeting on June 2. This is the district's second budget since its formation.

Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net.