Hearing Monday on RHAM spending

Traci Hastings, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Apr. 10—HEBRON — The budget for RHAM Middle/ High School's operation will go to a virtual public Monday.

Regional School District 8 Interim Superintendent Scott Leslie proposed a budget for 2021- 22 with a bottom line of $30,351,341, an increase of 1.67 percent from the approved budget for this year of $29,805,488.

Additionally, $299,490 is being budgeted for capital improvements, an amount $43,872 less than the monies set aside for this year's projects.

" This results in an overall budget increase of 1.67 percent," Leslie said in a summary letter. " I believe this increase of 1.67 allows Region 8 to continue providing high quality programming for students, expand innovative learning opportunities and address several large capital projects which have been put off in previous budget years. This budget proposal is aligned with the strategic plan and supports the district's vision, mission and commitments."

The budget includes a 3.63 percent increase for contractual teacher salaries, and a 2.5 percent increase for administrative pay. Health insurance also increased by 3.2 percent.

" In Region 8, personnel costs make up 64 percent of the overall budget," Leslie said. "In 2020-21, personnel costs totaled $ 19,451,478, $ 15,630,833 ( for) salaries and $ 3,820,595 ( for) benefits. The 2021- 22 budget proposal increases salaries to $16,118,482 and benefits to $4,015,699."

The three towns in District 8 are assessed shares of the yearly budget based on student population from the previous fall.

At the current bottom line, A n d o v e r , with 223 students, is levied at 17.13 percent of the budget for $5,199,185, up from 202021's levy of $5,168,272.

Hebron, with 609 students last October, is assessed at 46.77 percent of the budget at a cost of $ 14,195,322, down from his year's assessment of $14,387,109.

Marlborough had 470 students last fall and will be charged 36.10 percent of the budget, or $10,956,834, up from this year's levy of $10,250.107.

All three towns will see a decrease in their assessments for the capital improvements budget, as that figure will decrease. If approved, Andover will pay $51,304, down from $59,539; while Hebron will pay $140,076, a decrease from $ 165,741, and Marlborough will be levied $108,120, down from $118,082.

Monday's hearing is at 7 p. m. on Google Meet and can be joined by going online to www. meet. google. com/ xavtysm- tbm or by calling 267625-2694 and using the pin 592752166.

The budget is slated to go to an in-person referendum at town polling places May 4, with a state- permitted option to vote by absentee ballot.

This results in an overall budget increase of 1.67 percent.

Scott Leslie, District 8