Saco voters approved a $140.7 million bond to build a new Pre-K through kindergarten school and a second building for grades one through five last week.
The bond passed with 2,340 votes in favor and 810 against.
“I am beyond proud that the citizens of Saco have overwhelmingly chosen to invest in our children’s future,” Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail said. “With the State of Maine contributing 72%, this was an opportunity we could not afford to pass up.”
Of the $140.7 million, the state will fund $101 million, leaving residents to pay only about $39 million for the two new schools.
The owner of a home valued at $412,000 will pay $284 a year to cover Saco’s share of the project cost, or about 69 cents per $1,000 of property value for the 20 year length of the bond.
The schools will be located on a plot of land between Mill Brook Road and Route 1 that borders the Eastern Trail, and will include state of the art facilities, up-to-date technology, unified art spaces, expansive cafeteria seating, and multiple outdoor spaces for learning and play.
“This will ensure Saco is well positioned to serve the needs of our families for generations to come,” MacPhail said.
Residents also approved a $52.2 million school budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year, which begins on July 1.
The budget passed with 2,549 in favor and 578 against.
A majority of the budget is allocated to salaries and benefits for teachers and staff, as well as Special Education instruction.
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