RSU 52 board hears surprise change to ED279; adult education funding removed from K–12 subsidy calculation

SUPERINTENDENT PRESENTS ED279, FINANCES Superintendent Carrie told the RSU 52/MSAD 52 board the district's ED279 report shows modest enrollment growth (about 11.5 students on a two-year average) and higher per-pupil rates: $8,241 at the elementary level and $8,758 at the high-school level. The report also reflected a large increase in the special-education subsidy (about $1,379,000), which largely tracks district spending.

Why the budget is suddenly uncertain Carrie said the bigger surprise was a late legislative amendment to ED279 that removed the adult-education subsidy from the K–12 calculation and directed it to adult-education accounts instead. "We do not know right now how much money is gonna go to adult ed and what mechanism by that," she said, adding, "We just don't know." District staff estimated the removed adult-ed amount at roughly $600,000 based on last year's figures. That change reduces the expected pot the district had been counting on and complicates the calculation of the additional local assessment the towns may be asked to provide.

Net and next steps Despite the adult-ed removal, the district's operating allocation increased by about $1,009,000 overall compared with last year, meaning the state-local subsidy figure moved up roughly $1 million. Carrie cautioned, however, that the district will only receive a range and then a final figure shortly before the budget vote: districts typically get a range in late March and the final number about one week before the vote. "We won't know for sure until days before we vote," she said.

Other fiscal indicators Carrie reported a higher health-insurance loss ratio (about 120 percent) and that budget planning assumes a 15 percent increase in health-insurance premiums to avoid last-minute surprises. The district also benefits from a "small school adjustment" that adds about $140,000 for Leeds Central School because it qualifies as a small, remote school. Carrie said district staff are examining reserve accounts and capital timing to reduce potential pressure on the operating budget.

What the board asked and what happens next Board members pressed for clarification on how the adult-education redirection will be administered and whether any portion may still flow to the district. Carrie said state officials were scrambling to sort out the change and the district expected more clarity within a week. The board will include these uncertainties in the February 26 budget timeline and continue work on reserve use, capital planning and the proposed additional local assessment.

Ending note No formal budget vote occurred at the meeting; the superintendent said staff will return with refined budget proposals after the state issues a range and the final ED279 figures.