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Auburn School Committee holds public hearing on $32.69 million FY2026 budget
Summary
The Auburn School Committee opened and closed a public hearing April 2 on a proposed FY2026 budget of $32,687,276, a 3.81% increase driven by contractual obligations, special education placements and limited state aid; the district plans staffing adjustments and is using offsets and one-time reimbursements to limit the tax impact.
The Auburn School Committee held a public hearing April 2 on the school district's proposed FY2026 budget of $32,687,276.
Superintendent Dr. McCrillis told the committee the district had reduced its initial submission and was presenting a "responsible and respectable budget" that reflects a 3.81% increase over FY2025. He said the district used a mix of offsets and one-time reimbursements to limit the increase and that the proposal was shaped by the district's strategic priorities: maintaining effective class sizes, supporting social-emotional health and meeting contractual obligations.
The budget includes planned reductions and additions in staff. The district will leave unfilled two positions (one elementary, one middle) and will not fill two other specific vacancies: a high school teacher on leave and an elementary teacher who resigned. To meet IEP minutes requirements, the budget adds two positions: a special education teacher at Swanson Road Intermediate and a district speech-language pathologist. The superintendent said additional temporary stipends might be used to cover some sections rather than filling a leave replacement.
Why it matters: the proposal determines FY2026 staffing, special education services and program funding for Auburn Public Schools and will be considered by town leaders as part of the municipal budgeting process.
Key fiscal details presented during the hearing include: - Total proposed budget: $32,687,276. - Proposed increase over FY2025: 3.81% (the committee's originally proposed 4.3% was revised to 3.81 at the town's request). - Projected offsets (fees, rentals, tuition, revolving accounts, solar credits): $4,017,685.93. - Chapter 70 (state education aid) projected increase: about 1%. - Special education circuit breaker estimated at 70% reimbursement. - Medicaid reimbursements projected to increase to about $160,000. - DESE reimbursement related to the town shelter included as a $257,916 offset to budgeted expenses. - Bus fee increase ($25) projected to generate an additional $20,000 in offsets. - School choice planned spots: 74 (see separate action on school choice).
Presenters identified line-by-line budget figures for central administration, pupil services, facilities, technology and each school; business manager Jennifer Stanek and assistant superintendent Alan Keller answered procedural questions and supplied the detailed line items. Principals and department leaders summarized salaries and support-cost totals for their buildings and program areas.
The superintendent highlighted enrollment uncertainty tied to local housing developments (Topograph) and the town shelter, which the district has been notified will close Aug. 31, 2025. The district used October 1 enrollment for projections and noted two planned residential special-education placements that will be budgeted in FY2026.
Public hearing procedure: the committee voted to open the FY2026 public hearing and later voted to close it after presentations and questions. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
What comes next: the committee will finalize its recommended budget and forward it through the town's budget process; the superintendent said the district will continue outreach and is available to answer questions from residents and town leadership.
