Eric Curtis, RSU 06 athletic and activities director, told the Budget Advisory Committee that three budget lines — purchase services (officials, security, facility rentals), supplies and transportation — carry the bulk of athletics and activities costs, and that many routine expenses are covered by separate booster organizations rather than the school operating budget.

Curtis detailed specific pressures: officials are paid $97.50 per varsity contest this year and the rate will increase to $101 next year; Cumberland County deputy coverage for football previously cost about $35/hour with a four‑hour minimum and now can cost roughly $100/hour with the same minimum; ice‑rental and pool fees are substantial (Curtis cited $275 per hour for USM ice time, equating to about $550 per home hockey game, and $85 per hour for St. Joe’s pool time, which Curtis said will go to $125 per hour next year). "Officials right now in the state of Maine for a varsity sport, $97.50 for a contest. Next year, that is $101 a contest," Curtis said.

Curtis described how boosters cover many expenses not in the district supply line: uniforms, most practice costs at external rinks or pools, travel beyond local transportation, and fundraising for individual teams. He estimated hockey families face roughly $15,000 in pay‑to‑play style costs for off‑site practice time and noted the district typically does not fund uniforms or travel‑team extras. "We do not have one overarching booster club," he said; each team or activity runs its own fundraising.

Committee members asked about robotics and other clubs; Curtis said the district currently budgets about $1,500 for robotics (which typically covers one registration) and that additional booster or board requests sometimes follow.

Curtis also said student participation has risen since the COVID years across most sports and activities, which increases demand for officials, transportation and facilities.

No funding shifts or new appropriations were adopted at the meeting; the advisory committee and administrators agreed to continue working through detailed numbers and to circulate corrected figures where available.