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District officials warn of uncertainty in federal grants and possible food-service shortfalls
Summary
Administrators told the board that federal Title funding and federal contributions to food service may be reduced; staff recommended planning for potential cuts while awaiting final allocations.
District administrators told the RSU 40/MSAD 40 school board that several federal funding streams the district relies on may be delayed or reduced, and they urged the board to plan for uncertainty while awaiting final state allocations.
A business-management presenter said the district is forecasting roughly $400,000 in a revenue stream for fiscal year 2026 that could be delayed because of state-level budget issues. The presenter also warned that federal support for the district’s food service program could be reduced or eliminated, which she estimated could leave an approximate $600,000 gap unless the state or the district covers it.
A district administrator described the district’s federal-title funding as “just shy of $900,000” in the current budget, most of which supports positions in Miller and Warren schools. That administrator said districts typically learn final federal allocations from the state in April, and that the district should plan for possible reductions: “probably we should plan for a a minimum of 25% reduction in Title I,” the administrator said, while acknowledging that this was speculative.
Administrators described two planning tensions: drafting a budget without federally funded positions when those funds might arrive, and risking an optimistic budget that counts funds that could instead be cut. The district said it would plan for worst-case reductions where possible and move essential, legally required services into the general fund where necessary, then restore items to federal titles if and when funds are confirmed.
No formal budgetary action or layoffs were announced at the meeting. Administrators said they will return to the board with more concrete figures after the state notifies districts of final federal allocations.
