RSU 22 proposes $40.75 million FY26 budget; towns face steep assessment increases and carryforward choices

RSU 22 Superintendent Nick Wain presented a proposed FY26 budget of $40,746,863.65 on May 14, saying the figure represents a 4.44% increase over the current year and that the presentation is based on a $1,000,000 carryforward assumption.

The budget matters to taxpayers because local assessments would rise sharply under several of the carryforward scenarios discussed. "Everything that you will see tonight on this presentation is based on $1,000,000 carry forward money," Wain said, noting the district and towns will decide how much of the fund balance to use to offset taxes. He told representatives from the four towns that a district budget meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hammond Academy Gymnasium and that the validation referendum will be held at local polling places on Tuesday, June 10.

Nut graf: The district is asking voters to approve the FY26 budget at the June validation vote. How much of the RSU's unallocated fund balance is used as carryforward will materially change each town's assessment; Wain presented multiple options (including $0, $500,000, $1,000,000, $1,500,000, $2,000,000 and $3,000,000) and warned that large uses of last year’s fund balance have contributed to the current spike in assessment percentages.

The proposal breaks down to a $1,732,082 total increase (4.4%). Wain said wages and benefits total $30,060,429 and that the budget’s increase in wages and benefits ($1,853,757) constitutes 107.02% of the overall increase because other lines were cut to absorb personnel cost growth. Wain summarized revenue assumptions: current enrollment of 2,116 students, a state allocation increase of about $165,663.88, anticipated local earned revenue just over $1.1 million, and a recommended use of $300,000 from several reserve accounts to offset Article 2 (special education) and Article 8 (maintenance/transportation) costs.

Wain showed the district’s unallocated fund balance is just under $7.5 million and explained the connection between the FY25 carryforward decision and the larger assessments now visible: "The more money that we provide from carry forward money, the more we continue to kick the can down the road," he said. He noted that if the district again used $3,000,000 as carryforward, the local increase would still be about 9.12% because town valuations rose substantially per the ED 279 state data.

The packet presented contained multiple options for citizens and town representatives to weigh. Wain and town representatives discussed outreach steps: posting the slide packet and video, preparing FAQs, and holding informational sessions between the June 5 district meeting and the June 10 validation vote so voters can see how different carryforward amounts change each town’s assessment.

Ending: Wain urged voters and town representatives to review the packet and attend the June 5 district meeting, saying the budget committee and town reps had worked through many meetings to trim expenses and reach the current recommendation.