South Portland Board approves FY26 budget after divided vote; cuts, restorations shape plan

South Portland ' The Board of South Portland on Tuesday approved the superintendent's FY26 budget with modifications after hours of discussion about cuts, staffing priorities and federal funding risks.

Board members and administrators said the budget tightens spending to limit the local tax increase while preserving core services. The board voted on a package of changes that included eliminating three elementary social-emotional-learning (SEL) positions and restoring the district's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion role from coordinator to director.

The vote followed extended budget work sessions and public comment. Superintendent Dr. Prince told the board that district leaders had "come up with an additional $115,000 in savings," and that those reductions "introduce risk" because they largely fall in supplies, transportation and discretionary conference funding. Dr. Prince also described the district's reliance on two federal funding streams that flow through the state ' local entitlement (special education) and Title funds ' and said the district had funding secured through the federal fiscal year ending in October.

Why it matters: The FY26 budget frames…