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RSU 06 business manager flags rising insurance, requests board guidance for 2026–27 budget
Summary
Business manager Don Pooler told the board the 2026–27 budget is in preliminary stages, with a preliminary 9% property-insurance estimate and a possible 20% health-insurance increase; she asked the board to provide a target for an acceptable tax-assessment increase to guide draft budgets.
Don Pooler, the district business manager, briefed the board on early work for the preliminary 2026–27 budget and asked trustees to provide guidance that will allow staff to model different tax-assessment scenarios.
Pooler said departments and principals verified staffing levels and returned non-labor budgets; most non-labor requests came in flat. She said three negotiated contracts already agreed will be built into next year’s budget and one contract remains to be negotiated. The district is refining staffing and non-labor expenditure estimates as department meetings continue.
On cost pressures Pooler reported a preliminary estimate of a 9% increase in property-insurance premiums and said, based on current loss runs and market conditions, a 20% health-insurance increase “is not unrealistic.” She said the district is exploring options through an intermediary (Hub) and alternatives to Anthem (MEABT) but had no final figures at the meeting.
Pooler described the state revenue outlook as unknown until state figures are released in late January or early February and emphasized the importance of a board guidance number for acceptable tax-assessment increases. She said having a target would let staff indicate what cuts would be required to meet that number (for example, the number of positions that might be cut to meet a lower tax-increase target).
Directors asked how guidance should be developed; several said the finance and facilities committee should reach consensus and bring a recommendation to the full board. Pooler and the superintendent said staff will continue meetings and present updated estimates as state revenue and insurance numbers become available.
No formal budget vote or tax-rate decision was made at the meeting; Pooler asked for direction and signaled follow-up in committee and future board meetings.
