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Orono board approves preliminary 2025‑26 budget, certifies population estimate
Summary
The Orono Public School District board on June 9 approved a preliminary $2025‑26 budget and certified a population increase that could affect levy revenue. Directors emphasized conservative enrollment assumptions, a recent $4.9 million bond sale for facility work and steady community education enrollment.
The Orono Public School District Board of Education approved a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2025‑26 and certified the district's updated population estimate at its June 9 meeting.
The board voted to adopt the preliminary budget after a presentation by Nick Tainter, the district's director of business services, who laid out revenue and expenditure projections and fund balances. The board also approved a resolution certifying the state demographer's population estimate, which rose from 12,711 (02/2023) to 13,359 (02/2024) and will be used in 2025 payable‑2026 levy calculations.
District finance officials told the board the preliminary total for all funds is roughly $70.51 million in revenues against about $71.00 million in expenditures for 2025‑26, with the general fund accounting for the majority of operating activity. Tainter highlighted that general fund revenues include a projected 2.74% increase in general education aid and that roughly 79% of general fund expenditures remain salaries and benefits.
Tainter said the district sold $4.9 million in bonds on June 5; proceeds are recorded in the building construction fund and are earmarked for projects including abatement, parking lot work, long‑term facility maintenance (LTFM) and operating capital. He told the board a $1.5 million placeholder in the construction fund is tentatively planned for use in 2025‑26 while project timing and tariffs are clarified.
Community education figures were a focal point. Director Tiffany Clifton and Tainter reported strong summer registration: 1,800 individual registrants representing 7,200 total enrollments and no remaining wait list for the Spartan Kids program. Tainter described the community education fund as stabilized after COVID and noted the board committee had recommended approval of that program's budget.
Enrollment assumptions in the preliminary budget are conservative: the district projects a modest rise from about 2,943 students this year to approximately 2,973 (about 1%). Tainter and board members said the estimate is intentionally cautious because some families choose alternatives up to the first day of school and because postsecondary options (PSEO, etc.) can affect high school counts.
Board members on the finance and facilities committee said they are aiming to grow the unassigned fund balance over time in line with the district's fund balance policy, which requires a 5% unassigned balance (about $2.7 million under the preliminary figures). Food service retains a relatively large reserve (Tainter described it as over 40% of that fund) and the district plans one‑time kitchen equipment purchases in 2025‑26.
After discussion the board moved and seconded approval of the preliminary budget. The motion passed.
In commenting on the budget materials, a board member praised the new presentation format and accessibility for nonfinancial readers; Tainter said he would post the final budget book to the district website after staff edits. The board chair set an expectation that additional project timing and LTFM details would be discussed at future facilities and finance meetings.
The population certification and the preliminary budget approvals will be reflected in levy and budget work this fall; Tainter said the population resolution must be submitted to the state demographer by July 31 and that MDE will process the estimate for levy calculations.
