Dawn, a district staff member, told the RSU 06/MSAD 06 Budget Advisory Committee on Jan. 9 that school budgets are tightly constrained by state rules and local referendum processes and that district income sources are “very limited.”

The presentation outlined the district’s budget structure, revenue sources, recent audit results and current enrollment and staffing trends ahead of a February baseline-budget presentation and a Feb. 27 supplemental-requests review. Dawn said the district’s primary revenue sources are the state subsidy, local property taxes, interest on funds and occasional small revenues such as space rental, and noted those sources leave limited flexibility.

Why it matters: the committee advises the superintendent and business office before the school board approves a recommended budget that then goes to town budget meetings in May and a referendum in June. Committee members pressed staff about fund balance, class-size averages, counselor vacancies and transportation coverage as the district prepares figures that will determine the tax impact shown in the preliminary proposed budget.

District fund balance and audit
Dawn and committee members reviewed FY24 audit figures the district provided in the packet. The packet shows a 3,500,000 planned use of fund balance in last year’s budget that was largely unused; the district spent about $42,578 of that amount. Dawn said auditors view the district’s fund balance as “appropriate for a district our size.” The presentation also stated the district collected $780,337 more in revenues than budgeted and expended $2,670,705 less than budgeted in FY24.

Budget structure and timing
Committee members were briefed on the state-mandated structure of school budgets, which the staff said is organized into 11 articles that budget voters consider at a town-level budget meeting (the committee’s packet noted the budget meeting is typically held at Bonney Eagle High School). Dawn explained the board votes on a recommended budget and then towns hold the legally required budget meeting in May; if the budget passes there, it proceeds to the June referendum. The committee was told motions at the town meeting may only reduce expenses and that one article requires secret ballot procedure.

Enrollment and class-size trends
District staff presented enrollment figures based on the October 2024 snapshot used for state reporting (ED279). The packet showed total district enrollment of 3,307 as of that report and a roughly steady decline from 3,681 earlier in the decade. Dawn summarized school‑level averages: Buxton about 17.3 students per class, Edna 17.4, GeorgiJack 17.5, HBMRAE 17.6, Hollis 15.3 and Sacopee Valley (referred to as "Steve Falls" in the packet) about 17.0, noting the district-wide classroom averages are fairly even.

Staffing and program adjustments
Staff described how staffing has tracked enrollment and how the district has repurposed positions rather than simply cutting them. Dawn cited an example at the high school where two departmental positions were refocused into a small alternative program for high‑needs students rather than eliminated. Special-education and satellite programs were also added in some schools; staff said they used reconfiguration and attrition to manage staffing levels after COVID-era temporary hires.

Counselors, social workers and transportation
Committee members asked about open positions. Dawn said the district currently has at least one open school-counselor position (noted at Hollis) and another site where a social worker is covering counseling duties because certified counselors have been hard to hire. Staff said social workers and counselors typically require a master’s degree and that master’s-level pay steps apply under the bargaining contracts. On transportation, staff said runs are being covered but that the district continues to recruit bus drivers and would welcome additional trained substitutes.

Next steps and community input
Dawn told the committee that a baseline budget presentation will be on Feb. 13 and supplemental-request details will follow on Feb. 27. Committee members asked staff to present how the state calculates funding and the “55%” state-share figure at a future meeting so the public can compare district funding to other towns. The committee is accepting applications for two parent/guardian/resident seats and staff encouraged diverse participation across municipalities.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to accept the Dec. 12 draft minutes — seconded by Peter Burns; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to adjourn — seconded (not specified); outcome: approved (voice vote).

The committee scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 23, when academic data and an update on school construction are expected to be discussed.