The Newfields School District presented a proposed operating budget increase of 5.98% at a public hearing in which district staff and residents discussed the drivers of the change and the district’s recommended allocations to several trust funds.

District staff said the principal budget pressures are contractual salary increases under the teachers’ collective bargaining agreement, rising special education costs and facilities and maintenance needs identified in a recent five‑year audit. The proposed operating budget includes a time‑sensitive LED lighting upgrade tied to a utility rebate the district expects could offset part of the cost if installed during the coming fiscal year.

District administrators also said they would like to direct retained fund balance (if available) toward multiple trust funds. The board proposed keeping the same order of funding that voters see on the warrant: first the Building Maintenance Fund (proposed $25,000), then the Special Education Trust Fund (proposed $10,000), a new Technology Reserve (proposed $10,000), and Safety & Security (proposed $10,000). Officials said retained funds would be allocated in that order if year‑end balances are insufficient to cover all requests.

Staff described the default budget — the baseline if voters reject the proposed operating budget — and said the difference between proposed and default budgets is roughly $53,000 on the materials provided to the public. The packet also included a more detailed MS‑26 operating budget worksheet. Board and staff reiterated that the first year of any approved bond payment would be an interest‑only amount charged against the 2025–26 fiscal year budget (the bond discussion was held earlier in the meeting).

Public comment covered several topics: the size of the proposed budget increase, the facilities audit and the LED project, food‑service losses and whether the district should pursue participation in federal school meal programs (district staff said the facility would need renovation and that small schools often find program entry cost‑prohibitive), and student enrollment and per‑pupil cost figures. Staff said the district’s published cost per pupil on the Department of Education website for the last published year was $23,527.91; a budgetary per‑pupil figure cited during the meeting (budget divided by projected enrollment) was roughly $27,700 under the district’s estimate of 120 students.

Ending: The board closed the public hearing by motion and will present the proposed operating budget and amended warrant articles at the deliberative session; staff will publish the MS‑26 and warrant article language after signatures are collected.