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Auburn committee hears athletics budget as wrestling moves from club funding to district budget
Summary
Auburn School Committee reviewed the FY26 athletics budget March 19, hearing that a 3% stipend increase was built in, varsity wrestling will move from club funding into the district budget, and shared-service agreements with neighboring districts reduce some swim costs.
Todd Simpson presented the Auburn Public Schools athletics budget for fiscal year 2026 to the Auburn School Committee on March 19, outlining program costs, stipend changes and shared arrangements with neighboring districts.
Simpson said the district added a 3% stipend increase “in anticipation of that contract,” and provided a sport-by-sport snapshot that showed wide variation in per‑pupil costs across programs. “Some more good news from the winter athletic season. . . they completed the season undefeated,” Simpson said of the unified basketball team.
The presentation described line items that drive costs: officials and scorekeeper fees set through the MPA (the Maine Principals Association), rental fees for offsite facilities, scheduling and registration software, repairs and equipment, and police coverage at larger events. Simpson said the district continues “to try to find an athletic trainer on a regular basis” and that a projected athletic‑trainer line in the plan is shown as “62” on the spreadsheet packet.
Committee members asked for numeric clarifications during the review. A repair‑and‑maintenance line that initially displayed “$55,000” was corrected in the meeting to $5,500. Simpson described a $1,600 line in the draft budget tied to varsity wrestling, saying that amount “would be moving forward for 25‑26” and would cover roughly three home wrestling matches (officials, timers, scorekeepers and scoreboard operators) as the Auburn Wrestling Club transitions some responsibilities back to the district.
On swimming, Simpson said the district’s $5,000 rental fee covers pool time at a partner facility; he detailed cost‑sharing arrangements: MSAD 52 provides transportation to away meets, Lewiston covered the varsity swim stipend and Auburn paid two assistant stipends, and Poland and St. Dom’s assisted by providing swim officials. “We’re all sharing the cost,” Simpson said.
Simpson and other speakers noted how participation rates change per‑pupil averages: girls’ hockey showed a high per‑pupil cost because only a handful of Auburn students were on the roster this year, which Simpson said should fall if more skaters join in coming seasons. Booster organizations also offset costs: Simpson praised the Edward Little Grandstand (the district booster group) for equipment purchases, scholarships and other fundraising support.
Committee members raised storage and equipment maintenance concerns. Simpson said storage space at the high‑school athletic complex is limited and “certainly a concern,” and he described the need to protect large items such as pole‑vault and high‑jump landing mats from the elements. He urged continued attention to storage, netting to separate concurrent practices on the turf, and equipment inspections and repairs.
The committee did not take a vote on athletics budget lines at the March 19 meeting; the presentation was part of the district’s multi‑week budget review process.
