Officials announced during the Mason School District deliberative session on Saturday that town and school district election hours will be extended this year, starting three hours earlier than they have in the past.
The deliberative session was sparsely attended, according to district Superintendent and Mason Elementary School Principal Kristen Kivela, with only three voters in attendance. No changes were made to the district’s proposed warrant, except the times available for voting on March 10, when the district votes on both town and school district officers and all school warrant items.
Last year, the polls for town voting opened at 11 a.m. and stayed open until 7 p.m. This year, the polls will open at 8 a.m.
“People have been asking for it, because a lot of people work out of town,” Kivela said. “It may be easier for them to vote in the morning and go into work a little later. I know it’s something people have been requesting.”
The proposed budget for the district is $3,168,941, which represents a .46 percent, or $14,625 increase over last year’s budget.
The budget includes increases in technology, rising utility costs, and a 3 percent salary increase for school staff. The district saw savings in tuition costs to Milford, which decreased about $22,000 due to fewer students anticipated to attend the school in 2020-21.
The district is recommending adding to three capital reserve accounts from the district’s unspent funds, available in July. If voters approve, the district would add $20,000 to its account for special education funding, $10,000 to its building and grounds maintenance fund, and $15,000 in its unanticipated tuition fund, for students who move into the district mid-year.
All articles on the warrant have been recommended by the School Board in unanimous votes.
Ballot voting is scheduled for March 10 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Mason Town Hall. Voters will elect school officers, including two members to the School Board, a district treasurer and a district moderator.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.