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Lewiston superintendent outlines FY26 budget increase, referendum set for May 13
Summary
Superintendent Jake Langus told a town-hall audience the Lewiston School Committee approved a 3.44% local mill-rate increase (46¢) as part of a $117.1 million FY26 budget proposal; a public referendum is scheduled for May 13 at Longley.
Superintendent Jake Langus of Lewiston Public Schools outlined the district—s proposed fiscal 2026 budget and a referendum vote scheduled for May 13, saying the School Committee has approved a 3.44% increase to the local mill rate (about 46¢). "May 13 is the referendum vote," Langus said, and voting will take place at Longley from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Langus said the proposed budget totals roughly $117.1 million, with more than $80 million coming from state subsidy and a local request of about $31.3 million. He said the budget increase is driven largely by personnel costs: "what was important to us in this budget is that we maintain our staff to the best of our ability." The superintendent said wages and benefits account for about 71% of the overall budget and represent about 95% of the requested increase.
Why this matters: the referendum will decide the local share of the FY26 spending plan and influence staffing levels, special-education services and planned capital projects. Langus said…
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