RSU 22 budget committee members said they will present a budget plan that retains three targeted reserve accounts for planned capital needs while moving other reserve lines into a general contingency fund requiring board approval.

Committee members said the three reserves to be retained are for capital (including a planned turf replacement), technology refreshes and athletic-facility needs. The group also reached consensus to begin setting money aside for a future administrative-building replacement and to present the contingency/reserve approach to the full board on May 14.

Why it matters: Committee members said moving unplanned uses to a single contingency fund would give the district more flexibility while preserving separate accounts for predictable, planned costs. Members repeatedly emphasized that using a contingency fund does not mean money is unprotected: transfers to contingency would require a public board vote, and confidentiality for student-specific expenditures can be preserved through executive session.

Discussion details: The superintendent explained the confidentiality rationale behind the original reserve structure, saying, “When we started the reserve account, I think I'm I'll answer it correctly, correct me if I'm wrong, but I when we started the reserve account, the intent was to protect the confidentiality of the student and the family.” Board members asked whether that confidentiality would be lost if special-education expenses were paid from contingency; the superintendent replied that the board could use executive session and then a public transfer from unallocated funds into contingency for a specified purpose so that private student details would not be broadcast at a public meeting.

Committee members also discussed whether to create a dedicated reserve for replacing the administrative building. Members agreed to set aside funds from surplus (the unallocated fund balance) if available, while noting that any actual building project will require separate approvals (referendum, permitting and planning) and that money placed into a reserve would remain in fund balance until used.

Implementation notes and next steps: The committee agreed to present the consolidated plan — the contingency approach plus the three retained reserve accounts and an administrative-building reserve proposal — at the full-board presentation on May 14. Committee members requested the board consider a written contingency policy with thresholds and definitions to increase transparency for taxpayers.

Ending: The committee’s consensus will be reflected in the May 14 presentation; final adoption will follow the board’s regular schedule, with additional detail and engineering/estimate updates on the proposed administrative-building reserve expected in later materials.