Finance Committee Approves $200K Reserve for Special Education Budget Overages

The MSAD52 Board of Directors meeting on May 29, 2025, highlighted significant financial challenges facing the district, particularly in special education funding. The board discussed a substantial budget overage of over $700,000, primarily due to increased MaineCare costs and the need for contracted services like speech and physical therapy. To address this shortfall, the board plans to recommend utilizing $200,000 from a reserve fund at their next meeting on June 12.

In addition to the financial discussions, the board approved a slight increase in electricity rates, maintaining the current supplier for a 12-month contract. They also reviewed financing options for the purchase of three vans and discussed a plan to finance five color printers through Androscoggin Bank over five years. This decision aligns with the district's strategy to reduce costs by transitioning to a new printing software, MyQ, which aims to minimize the use of desktop printers.

The meeting also touched on the ongoing construction work near the central office, which is expected to create some disruption but is seen as a positive development for the district. The next board meeting is scheduled for June 12, where further financial decisions and updates will be addressed.