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RSU 22 voters approve $40.8 million budget for 2025–26, including negotiated staff raises
Summary
Voters at the RSU 22 district budget meeting approved the school unit's 2025–26 budget and related warrant articles, including the essential programs and services appropriation, locally raised funds and negotiated wage increases for staff.
RSU 22 voters approved the district'wide spending plan for the 2025'26 fiscal year, adopting the school board's recommended budget that sets total appropriations and local contributions to support pre-kindergarten through grade 12 programs.
The board of directors recommended total appropriations of $31,271,680.72 under the state's Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding model and asked the district to raise $9,694,425 locally to qualify for that state subsidy. In addition, voters approved a locally funded budget the board recommended at $40,783,924.15 to cover items not fully supported by the EPS model, including athletics, co-curricular programs, transportation and special education.
Why it matters: the vote determines town-by-town tax assessments and sets staffing and services for the next school year. The adopted package includes negotiated salary increases for staff and a substantial rise in wages and benefits compared with the prior year.
Most important facts: the warrant materials presented the EPS appropriation as $31,271,680.72 and showed the district needs to raise $9,694,425 to receive the state subsidy. The school board also recommended raising $6,822,778.24 in additional local funds to cover program areas outside the EPS allocation. The budget documents and meeting presentation showed wages and benefits increased by $1,853,757 over the previous year and noted a negotiated teacher salary increase described in the meeting as "7 plus percent." The school board recommended total spending (all sources) of $40,783,924.15 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
During voting, the moderator announced a tally of 42 votes cast with 37 in favor for the principal appropriation vote. The meeting record shows multiple warrant articles passed as printed, including the EPS appropriation and the locally raised amounts.
Discussion highlights: board and staff presentation materials emphasized enrollment projections that were essentially flat for the coming year and the district's negotiated salary increases. Questions from voters focused on the size of the wage increase, the district's fund balance, and the relationship between state EPS calculations and locally requested funding. Budget committee members and other speakers urged caution about using one-time fund balance to reduce taxes every year; one budget committee speaker said, "We don't wanna do that again," arguing against repeatedly drawing down reserves to lower assessments.
What passed: voters approved the EPS appropriation ($31,271,680.72), the locally required raise to obtain state subsidy ($9,694,425), additional local funds ($6,822,778.24), and the school board's recommended total operating budget of $40,783,924.15. Multiple related warrant articles authorizing transfers to reserve funds and accepting federal and state grants also passed as printed.
Looking ahead: the adopted budget locks in the district's staffing and program choices for the 2025'26 year and sets the town assessments that will appear on the municipal tax rate calculations. The district will also be able to expend federal and state grants during the year as those funds are accepted, subject to the conditions voters approved.
