RSU 04 board approves $23.3 million budget for public vote, adds Article 18 on $150,000 capital reserve

The RSU 04 School Board on Wednesday approved a $23,310,071 spending plan for the 2025–26 school year and voted to put the budget and related warrant articles before voters at a public budget meeting and validation referendum.

The board also voted to include Article 18 on the warrant, an article that would authorize the district to establish a capital reserve (capital improvement) fund and to transfer $150,000 from available fund balance into it. The board approved a separate, conditional motion to spend money from that fund on Libby Tozier building-envelope and window-sill replacement if Article 18 is approved by town voters.

Why it matters: The board's actions set the total dollar amount voters will consider and add a stand-alone ballot question that could create a new, recurring cost center (a capital reserve fund) governed by the school board. The article, if approved by voters, would both establish the fund and provide the board discretion to expend the $150,000 during the…