Bonny Eagle voters pass $73M budget, elect board members
Maine School Administrative District 6 voters gave the green light to a $73 million school budget for the coming year, according to unofficial results from Tuesday's election, despite a majority of voters in one of the five member towns casting ballots against it.
The approved budget represents a 6 percent increase over the current $68.9 million spending plan and translates to a 2.42 percent increase in the local tax rate for district residents.
MSAD 6 serves five communities in York and Cumberland counties: Buxton, Standish, Limington, Hollis, and Frye Island. When the final, unofficial tally was taken, four of those towns — Buxton, Hollis, Limington, and Standish — had voted in favor of the budget, while Frye Island voters rejected it. Across the entire district, 4,227 residents voted yes and 3,028 voted no.
Along with the operating budget, district voters also signed off on two borrowing measures. The first authorizes the district to take out $554,575 through Maine's School Revolving Renovation Fund, which offers zero-interest loans for school construction and renovation projects. That money is earmarked for indoor air quality improvements at the George E. Jack School. The second authorizes the district to borrow up to $8.2 million for a series of repairs and renovation projects at schools throughout the district.
Several school board seats were also on the ballot, and all three of the contested and uncontested races are for three-year terms on the Bonny Eagle school board.
In the race for the Buxton resident seat, incumbent Cynthia Meserve won another term, defeating challenger William Hall by a vote of 4,022 to 2,169.
In the Limington resident race, Dara Crawford defeated Howard Allen, 3,178 to 2,728.
The Standish resident seat was uncontested, meaning John Sargent will return for another term without opposition.
Official results are expected to be certified in the coming days, pending any recounts or challenges. The newly approved budget and board terms will take effect at the start of the next fiscal year.
