Lewiston School Committee adopts FY26 budget draft with 3.44% local increase

The Lewiston School Committee voted unanimously to approve the FY26 school budget draft that represents a 3.44% increase to the school portion of the local tax rate.

Member Janet Boden moved to approve the FY26 budget draft presented to the committee; Member Craig Charpentier seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Committee members debated whether to add a $165,000 increase to the draft to provide additional support for special education and to buffer potential higher-than-expected health insurance costs. Administration said the district had budgeted a 10% health-insurance increase but that carriers had warned the rise could be as high as about 17.89%. Superintendent Jake Langley said officials could use contingency plans and fund balance if needed but recommended adopting the version under discussion and revisiting any large anomalies when final insurance numbers were available.

Committee members expressed caution about using more fund balance this year. Member Janet Boden said she was uncomfortable increasing the tax-rate ask but acknowledged special-education needs; other members said the additional proposals could be revisited after the district receives final insurance quotes.

Administrators reviewed the timeline: the school budget presentation to the City Council is scheduled for April 8; the city council adoption vote follows in early May (council calendar noted April 8 presentation and a May vote on the combined city and school budgets); and the referendum for the school budget is scheduled for May 13. The committee also discussed holding a town-hall meeting before the referendum.

The committee's approval sets the school committee version of the FY26 budget for submission to the city and places the district in position to finalize numbers once insurance and final revenue figures are known.