RSU 52/MSAD 52 holds second budget workshop; administrators cut $463,756 and propose reserves as board weighs further reductions

Board members and district staff met for a second budget workshop focused on trimming next year’s spending and preparing for a May 8 district vote and town referendums later in May. Administrators said the current draft is roughly 1.25% smaller than the earlier proposal and that the changes since March 6 total $463,756. They reported the average tax increase to the towns now sits below 8%.

The workshop centered on the seven general warrant articles (regular instruction through school administration), plus transportation, facilities, debt service and other items such as food service and adult education. Administrators described position reductions spread across articles — about 21 positions in total — and said roughly half of those positions were unfilled at the time the cuts were identified.

Why it matters: the board must finalize a budget the district will present to voters; administrators emphasized the district’s limited options to reduce costs without affecting staffing, special education services, or required facilities work.

Key points

Budget overview and changes: Administrators said the current draft reflects feedback from earlier meetings and trims a range of supplies, subscriptions and device purchases. Specific reductions identified included elimination of the middle‑school world language offering, reduced purchases of iPads and interactive displays in some buildings, moving copier contracts to leases, and reductions in learning subscriptions (the eSpark subscription was removed). Administrators said warrant article 1 (regular instruction) fell about 1.43% and other warrant articles showed smaller declines. The presentation also included a newly anticipated Efficiency Maine rebate for two central schools; staff said the rebate is expected within weeks and they counted it as revenue for FY26 to reduce town impacts.

Positions and class sizes: Administrators said the budget reductions reflect removal or movement of roughly 21 positions across regular…