Lewiston Public Schools proposes conservative FY26 budget with 3.44% local increase; referendum set for May 13

Lewiston — The superintendent presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget Wednesday, March 5, 2025, for Lewiston Public Schools that would increase the local share by 3.44%, move the mill-rate projection to $13.79, and reduce planned use of fund balance by nearly $2 million.

The superintendent said the district’s "version of next for next of this budget for the next school year ... is the most conservative budget I believe we can put forward without breaking our oaths and commitments to kids." The proposal will be presented to voters in a referendum scheduled for May 13, 2025, if it advances through the school committee and city council process.

The nut of the superintendent’s presentation was fiscal restraint combined with targeted increases where external revenue has grown. Key figures presented Wednesday include a projected increase in state subsidy of about $7.3 million and an increase in career-and-technical-education (CTE) subsidy of about $450,000. The superintendent said those subsidy gains help cover planned expansions in CTE offerings and special-education programming while allowing the district to reduce the use of one-time fund balance from last year by roughly $1.995 million to $3,450,000.

"We will spend 1…