The $7.2 million education budget for Boothbay Region schools is to be voted on Monday night, May 13 at the annual meeting of the Community School District (CSD). This is a new and earlier date for the CSD's annual meeting which has been held in June in recent years.

The meeting for Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor voters starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Boothbay Region Elementary School gym.

The 2002-2003 budget as written in the CSD's annual report totals $7,292,542, a 6.4 percent increase over the current year's budget.

However, after the report was printed, Superintendent Mark Keegan got the final health insurance rates which will increase 16 percent rather than the 20 percent budgeted. So on Monday night officials will reduce the overall budget by $34,102, the amount of total savings in health insurance, by amending four articles which include insurance expenses.

The new total will be $7,258,440, for a new overall budget increase of 5.9 percent ($404,587) over the current year.

Salary raises as well as health insurance benefits together account for nearly 80 percent of the total budget increase. Across-the-board salary raises total over $179,000, and health insurance increases, due to the 16 percent rate hike, total $130,530 for the 155 CSD employees.

Other budgeted increases are for a roof reserve account, building insurance, renovations of the high school shop and weight room, a transfer pump, new carpeting and floor tile, elementary textbooks, and a new bus, among other items.

Nearly 90 percent of the total education budget is funded by the two school district towns. For 2002-2003 the enrollment-based cost shares will be $2,613,485 for Boothbay Harbor (up 9 percent over last year) and $3,928,140 for Boothbay (up 5 percent).

The CSD has an enrollment of 790 students as of April 1.

The CSD's annual budget report and warrant was mailed to residents last week.

Registered voters in both Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor are eligible to vote at the annual CSD meeting.