By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
LEMPSTER — Voters in Lempster were in a giving mood at the annual meeting of the Lempster School District Saturday night.
And it took them just 43 minutes to conduct the business included in the warrant containing 12 articles
The $3,320,763 operating budget was passed unanimously without one question being asked. Reviewing the proposed budget took approximately 10 minutes.
With additional monetary warrant articles approved the final budget total was $3,417,898.
Those articles included $17,135 to cover the estimated 2018-19 increase reached between the Lempster School Board and the Lempster Educational Support Personnel Association; $40,000 to reduce the general fund deficit; $30,000 to be added to the Tuition Capital Reserve Fund and $10,000 for roof repair over the student entrance.
The deficit increase appropriation covers the adjustment in that budget for a special needs student who came to the school halfway through the year. “We’ve never had to come for a deficit increase before,” said school board member Jim Grenier.
Voters could have covered the $10,000 for the roof repairs contained in Article 12 from the $45,874 balance in the building fund reserve but chose instead to appropriate new funds.
Before the meeting came to a close, Moderator Michael Shklar thanked the 50 people in attendance for their support. Grenier said it was the shortest annual meeting he could ever recall.
In the uncontested election races, Grenier polled 38 votes for one seat and Jillian Thomas 39 for the second opening on the Lempster School Board. Barbara Richards was re-elected school district clerk with 44 votes and Barbara Chadwick had 44 votes for school treasurer. Shklar was re-elected Moderator with 15 write-in votes.
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