A little more than a month after the first version of the 2017-18 SAD 41 budget was voted down -- by a combined total of 270 to 68 across the district communities of Atkinson, Brownville, Milo, and LaGrange -- a revised spending plan will be brought to voters at a district budget meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at the Penquis Valley School.

As part of the newly-approved state budget SAD 41 will be receiving approximately $263,000 more in state subsidy for 2017-18 and during a July 12 meeting the school board made a motion to use all these funds to reduce the assessment for the four district towns in the next version of the spending plan to be brought forward later in the summer.

A proposed 2017-18 SAD 41 budget of $8,500,571 was approved with 13 of 14 articles passing over 40 minutes during the annual district budget meeting on June 19 in the cafeteria at the Penquis Valley School. The total is now moved to a referendum in the district towns of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo on Thursday, June 29.

The SAD 41 board of directors approved a proposed budget of $8,500,571 for the 2017-18 academic year during a meeting on June 7 at the Penquis Valley School. The board also scheduled the district budget meeting for Monday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at Penquis Valley in the gymnasium, with an information session before at 5:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, June 13 residents of the SAD 41 communities of Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo will be voting on an approximate $474,000 loan from the state’s school revolving renovation fund for sprinkler and elevator system upgrades at the Penquis Valley School. Under the program the state would cover 70 percent of the costs, meaning a little more than $142,000 would be paid back by the district over five years at zero percent interest.

A public hearing on a $473,000 loan from the state’s school revolving renovation fund for sprinkler and elevator system upgrades at the Penquis Valley School has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marion C. Cook School in LaGrange.

The Brownville Police Department has been formally disbanded following a special town meeting on May 1 at the Brownville Elementary School.

At last month’s annual town meeting, residents -- by a count of 131 to 43 -- voted to defund the Brownville Police Department after March 31 and rely on the existing coverage from the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office for the region as of April 1. During a selectmen’s meeting April 5 at Brownville Elementary, attendees learned that town officials are consulting with legal counsel on how to proceed. A special town meeting may be held in the future, with potential warrant articles concerning whether to formally dissolve the police department and the sale of police vehicles and equipment

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The morning after Brownville residents voted to defund the community’s police department after the end of March — at town meeting citizens amended the proposed $167,620 budget line item to $35,767 or the estimated cost for the first three months of the year — county officials discussed the future of law enforcement services in eastern Piscataquis County during a March 21 commissioners’ meeting.

BROWNVILLE — Residents decided to stop funding the town’s police department during the annual town meeting on March 20.

LAGRANGE — AOS 43 has announced the hiring of Dr.

BROWNVILLE, Maine — With changes taking place at the top of the police department last month — after the resignation of Nicholas Clukey Sgt.

BROWNVILLE — Following the immediate resignation of Brownville Police Chief Nicholas Clukey on Feb.

Observer photo/Jeannette Hughes BOYS AND GIRLS FISHING ON BOYD LAKE — Six young anglers proudly display their catch on Saturday at the fire station in Milo as part of the 55th annual Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby.

BROWNVILLE JUNCTION — Results from the eighth annual Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club and the town of Brownville’s Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race, held on Jan.

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MILO — SAD 41 officials continue to work on short- and long-term plans for district facilities.

MILO — Last month Atkinson residents voted, 151-34, to file a petition to withdraw from SAD 41, with this process to be done by a committee through negotiations with the school district.