RSU 52/MSAD 52 proposes $37.8 million FY26 budget; special education and facilities drive the increase

RSU 52/MSAD 52 administrators presented a proposed fiscal 2026 budget of $37,827,028 at a March 6 budget workshop, calling for an overall increase of $2,800,000 (8.08%) and saying the local tax requirement would rise about 11.13%.

The budget message centered on two large drivers: special education and facilities maintenance. “The two warrant articles with the largest increase[ ] in special ed, $1,200,000, and facilities maintenance, $740,000,” administrators said in the presentation, and repeatedly stressed that staffing and contracted services for special education plus deferred capital needs account for most of the growth.

Why it matters: district officials told the board the package tries to balance classroom investments — notably new reading materials rolled K–6 next year and math materials for grades 3–8 — while addressing rising costs for MaineCare-covered services, contracted speech and therapy providers, and a backlog of facility work (boiler, HVAC, lighting and other capital projects). Administrators also asked the board to formally join the state pre-K cohort that brings a one-time $99,000 outfitting grant for pre-K classrooms.

Budget highlights and drivers - Total proposed budget: $37,827,028 (proposed FY26) — increase of $2,800,000 or 8.08% over the current year; administrators reported the state subsidy (ED 279) is projected to rise but the local share rises as well. - Special education: administrators told the board special education and related services are the single largest increase, shown on presentation slides as roughly $1.2 million of the budget growth. Staff shortages have driven higher use of contracted services; the district is also evaluating…