TOPSHAM — Voters in the four towns of School Administrative District 75 on Tuesday approved next year’s $36.2 million budget, 1,397 to 494.

The vote was the second affirmative vote in less than a month. In a May 22 district meeting, nearly 70 voters approved the budget for the first time.

In Tuesday’s state-required referendum, the budget passed 495-200 in Topsham, 578-172 in Harpswell, 127-57 in Bowdoin and 197-65 in Bowdoinham.

The proposed fiscal 2015 budget is up 4.4 percent from this year. If the plan is approved next month, taxpayers in SAD 75’s four towns will pay $21.4 million, a hike of 9.4 percent.

Topsham’s share would be $8.6 million, an increase of 8.63 percent; Harpswell, $7.6 million, up 10.11 percent; Bowdoin, $2.6 million, up 11.28 percent; and Bowdoinham, $2.7 million, up 7.9 percent.

The budget suspends a reliance on the SAD 75 fund balance, which the district has used to preserve positions and programs and to try to keep the local contribution constant. But the use of those funds also pushed the balance too low, SAD 75 Superintendent Brad Smith has said.

While the fiscal 2014 budget used $928,000 from the fund balance, next year’s spending plan proposes the use of none. That requires the lost revenue to be made up in the local contribution.

Helping to offset the tax burden is $14.6 million the district expects to receive in state subsidy, a nearly 5 percent increase.

Budget increases include $480,000 for contracted salary raises, $167,500 for facility projects, and an added expense of $364,000 for local students attending public charter schools, including Harpswell Coastal Academy.

Proposed spending also calls for a counselor/social worker at Harpswell Community School, at a cost of $12,000; a half-day of professional development for support staff, more than $12,000; and teacher/principal evaluation, including training, tools and materials, for $39,000.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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