Votes at a glance: RSU 14 voters approve budget articles 1'18; Article 13 passes 57'0 on written ballot

The RSU 14 budget meeting on May 14, 2025 considered and voted on 18 warrant articles. The meeting approved all articles as read by the moderator; most were decided by voice vote with the moderator calling the result as "carries." Article 13, which raises additional local funds and therefore required a written ballot by statute, passed on a written tally of 57 yes and 20 no. The meeting then certified the total budget and adjourned.

Summary of articles and outcomes (as read at the meeting):

- Article 1: Regular instruction, school board recommends $26,569,363.38 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 2: Special education, school board recommends $11,555,413.22 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). The moderator and staff indicated there are "almost 600" students in special education per a public question. - Article 3: Career and technical education, school board recommends $0 (placeholder) — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 4: Other instruction, school board recommends $1,359,668.88 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 5: Student and staff support, school board recommends $5,969,623.35 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 6: System administration, school board recommends $1,705,500.71 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 7: School administration, school board recommends $3,526,369.30 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 8: Transportation and buses, school board recommends $3,992,595.59 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). Staff confirmed funds to recruit and train bus drivers are included. - Article 9: Facilities maintenance, school board recommends $9,077,081.36 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 10: Debt service and other commitments, school board recommends $3,825,779 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 11: All other expenditures, school board recommends $280,000 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 12: Total cost of K'12 (state/local appropriation presentation), total appropriation $48,193,763.54; total to be raised $27,177,469.07 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). Moderator explained the left column is total (state+local) and the right column is required local contribution per statute. - Article 13: Additional local funds, school board recommends $17,788,122.22 (exceeds EPS allocation by that amount) — Outcome: written ballot required; result: 57 yes, 20 no; Article 13 carries. - Article 14: Summary total school budget, school board recommends $67,861,394.79 — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 15: Adult education appropriation $698,805.51 (local share $363,038.89) — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 16: Authorization to expend additional federal/state grant receipts if received — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 17: Transfer up to $3,970,000 to the school capital reserve fund and authorize expenditure for listed facilities projects (district-wide LED conversion, doors, grounds, network, pavement, playgrounds, primary school roof $500,000, Raymond Elementary HVAC/electrical $3,000,000) — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified). - Article 18: Authorization to transfer amounts exceeding 5% of a cost center among cost centers provided the total budget is not increased — Outcome: carries (voice vote; tally not specified).

The moderator announced that absentee ballots and polling for the referendum would be available, with the referendum vote scheduled for June 10, 2025. The meeting adjourned after certification of the results.

Note on vote tallies: except for Article 13 (written ballot) the meeting record in the transcript shows voice votes with the moderator calling the result "carries" or noting aye/nay; specific numeric tallies for those voice votes were not recorded in the transcript.