PHILLIPS -– The MSAD #58 school budget was been officially adopted at the District Budget Meeting June 1, and then those decisions were approved on a referendum question on June 8.

“It was a relief,” said Superintendent Quenten Clark. “This was the most difficult budget that I’ve ever been associated with. I’m glad it’s behind us.”

During the primaries, 64 percent of the 1,193 district voters who turned out approved the decisions made at the budget meeting. Around 36 percent of the voters said no to the budget suggesting they wanted the school board to start over. District wide, 753 voters said yes to the budget, 400 said no.

Clark explained that one year voters actually rejected a budget, but this year the residents may have been the most emotional ever.

Phillips and Strong showed the least support for the budget. In Strong 210 said yes and 153 voted no. In Phillips 142 said yes with 126 voters opposed. Kingfield voters had 213 say yes to 72, Eustis had 115 vote to approve with 46 in opposition and Avon saw 73 voters in favor to 43 who said no.

Sports, in particular the middle school, played a role in voter decisions as well did increased taxes due to losses in municipal state funding.

“I’m sure middle school sports will happen as they have in the past,” Clark explained. He also said that ju- nior varsity sports and other sports will continue to be looked at. After middle school sports were voted to be reduced in funding by $14,000, a group including three members of the school board assembled and concluded that fundraising and pay-to-participate initiatives would help to maintain the sports programs.

Clark said that he hoped the group would continue with its efforts to find private funds and if the board directed him to find money within the budget to cover elementary sports, the raised money could help with other cuts. Examples of other district wide cuts were junior varsity sports, the trainer’s position for $6,000 and uniforms.

“I think this group will move forward and see what they can do,” Clark said.

The superintendent said that junior varsity sports will “be a more thoughtful process.”

Meaning if participation does not warrant a team, there’s no need to fund it and participants can play on the varsity club.

“We’ll prioritize; the idea is to not take stuff away, it is to try to keep things in balance.”

Clark added, “It’s my plan to start fall sports next year like we always have.” Varsity participants will be charged a $35 play-to-participate charge to raise money for sports programs later that year.

District voters also got to vote on whether they wanted the referendum process to continue. The referendum process which was developed by the legislature, forces districts to have two votes to pass a budget.

Across the five district towns, 758 said yes to keeping the process and 426 said no.

Clark said he was disappointed with the vote and wished he had more time this year to educate voters on this issue. He explained that the referendum (or second vote) costs the district money. Due to the complexities of the law it forces district to use law firms to develop language and procedures which leads to expense. He explained that the district spends between $2,000 and $4,000 for attorneys which could be spent in other areas if the referendum process went away. People think they want the process but all we are really doing is sending money to the law firms, Clark explained.