School Budget Committee proposes $545K cuts reducing local tax increase to 7.58%

The MSAD52 Board of Directors meeting on March 12, 2025, focused primarily on budget adjustments following previous discussions about a proposed budget increase. The initial budget proposal indicated an 8.08% increase, which would have resulted in a local funding increase of approximately 11.13% across the three towns served by the district. However, following feedback from board members, the administration worked to reduce this increase.

During the meeting, it was reported that the administration successfully cut the budget by $545,000, bringing the total cuts to $1.74 million. This adjustment reduced the overall budget increase to 6.6% and the local increase to 7.58%. The administration emphasized that these cuts were made with careful consideration to limit the impact on students and staff, although they acknowledged that the choices made were not ideal.

Concerns were raised by principals regarding the necessity of these cuts, as they feared that the budget might not pass in its current form. The urgency of planning for the upcoming school year, including staffing and scheduling, was highlighted as a critical factor in the decision-making process. The administration noted that while the cuts exceeded the board's request to keep local increases below 10%, they were made to provide clarity and stability for the schools moving forward.

The meeting underscored the difficult position faced by the district, with administrators and principals expressing that the decisions were not taken lightly and that there was a shared understanding of the challenges ahead. The administration is seeking feedback from board members and staff to navigate the implications of these budgetary changes effectively.