RSU 10 budget proposal would raise district spending about 5.31%; trustees, residents pressed on insurance, staffing and tax impact

RSU 10 Superintendent Deb Alden told residents at a budget hearing that the district is proposing a 5.31% budget-to-budget increase (5.49% when shown on the towns' required local contribution line) for the 2025–26 fiscal year and that the annual district meeting to approve the warrant articles will be held May 28, with a follow-up town ballot on June 10.

Why it matters: the proposed increase affects local property taxpayers and includes a carryover of $1,350,000 from the district fund balance intended to reduce that tax impact. Board member Allison said at the meeting that “for every 1% decrease in the budget to budget, it's about a hundred and $44,000” in local cuts, a figure the board used to explain how budget changes translate to town-level revenue needs.

Most important facts: Alden said the district cut about $2,000,000 during internal reviews and that the district planned to carry over $1,350,000 to help reduce costs to taxpayers. She told the room that insurance costs arrived late…