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 tally reported for Article 13 was 43 yes to 6 no, with 10 ballots voided for other reasons; the article therefore passed. Article 14 (total district appropriation and the overall budget recommendation) carried; the school board recommended a total appropriation in the warrant reading of $37,364,589. Other cost-center articles (Articles 1'11) recommending funding for regular instruction, career and technical education, transportation, facilities maintenance and other line items were moved, seconded and carried in voice votes at the meeting.

Supporting details and program impacts: Madden said special-education costs rose "almost 15%" driven by MaineCare obligations, increases in out-of-district placements and contract services for positions the district cannot staff locally (for example, speech pathology). She noted health insurance increased 12.9% and that the district was finishing the final year of a three-year teacher contract, which required pay investments to close gaps with neighboring districts. To meet enrollment and specialized-staffing needs the budget adds positions including two teachers (one at Green Central School and one at the high school), a high-school special-education teacher, a special-education teacher at Green, and a building coordinator at the middle school in Greene. The district also eliminated several vacant or unfilled positions to reduce costs, including world language at the middle school, a science teacher at the high school, an elementary librarian, multiple educational technician positions and two open speech-pathologist positions.

Capital and reserves: The budget includes capital work identified in a district plan: a water system replacement at Turner Primary, roof work, repairs to a nonworking high-school elevator (an $86,000 estimate was cited) and wastewater-treatment repairs budgeted at over $400,000. Madden said the district recently completed a district-wide lighting and boiler projects and is adding dehumidification for some buildings. Voters approved warrant articles authorizing transfers into reserve funds: $200,000 to a Special Education Reserve Fund (Article 18), up to $100,000 to establish and seed a System Administration Reserve Fund (Article 19) and $200,000 to a Regular Education Reserve Fund (Article 20). The board also moved $9,200 to a Technology Reserve Fund (Article 21). Article 22 authorizes the board to allocate any additional state subsidy the district may receive during the fiscal year to increase expenditures, fund reserves or decrease local property-tax expectations as provided by statute.

Revenue and federal grants: Madden said the district received $475,000 in federal entitlement funding this past year that currently supports seven positions and professional development and that the special-education federal entitlement was roughly $600,000 last year and similarly supports positions and services. She told voters the district cannot control federal or state grant decisions and is preparing for the possibility that those funding streams could change.

Process and voting: The meeting proceeded article-by-article per the warrant. Several routine articles (Articles 1'11 and 15'2, covering cost centers, adult education, grant acceptance, reserve transfers and administrative authorities) were moved, seconded and approved largely by voice vote with no extended discussion recorded. Article 12 and Article 13 required written ballots; Article 13 passed 43-6 with 10 invalid ballots noted in the tally report. The moderator and ballot clerks managed the written ballot process; a nomination process at the meeting produced Clint Boothley as moderator (nominated and seconded and later sworn in by the moderator during the meeting).

Context and next steps: Madden reminded voters of the upcoming referendum at town offices on Thursday, May 22 (polls 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., as read at the meeting). She and the board emphasized fiscal responsibility, continued investment in reading and math materials, and the need to recruit and retain special-education and other certified staff.

Ending: With all warrant articles read, discussed where necessary, and voted on, the meeting adjourned after the board completed the required votes and ballot counts.