RSU 52 voters approve 2025–26 budget and related warrant articles

At the RSU 52 (MSAD 52) annual district budget meeting, voters approved the district's proposed 2025-26 budget and a package of warrant articles that fund operations, set local contributions, and create or top up reserve accounts.

Superintendent Carrie Madden opened the meeting with a budget overview and said, "The budget is up, increased from last year by 6.76% and a local increased average of 7.47%." She told voters the district receives "just about a little over $20,000,000 from the state in subsidy. That was a $1,300,000 increase from last year," and that the required local contribution rose to about $8.9 million because of state-determined valuation. Madden said the combined state subsidy and required local contribution total roughly $29,000,000, but the full budget exceeds that amount for specified reasons.

The nut graf: The meeting centered on the school budget's drivers (state subsidy changes, rising health-insurance and special-education costs, and capital needs) and on voters' approval of individual warrant articles that authorize spending by cost center, additional local funds, reserve transfers and program expenditures.

Most important facts first: Voters approved Article 13, authorizing additional local funds of $7,413,066.88 (the board said this exceeds the state's Essential Programs and Services model and is required to fund items the model does not fully cover). The meeting…