Winslow Schools board approves first reading of 2025–26 budget after insurance savings lower local ask

At a special meeting, the Winslow Schools board voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the proposed 2025–26 school budget after staff reported insurance renewals came in well below earlier estimates, reducing the district's requested local appropriation.

Peter, who presented the district's revenue worksheet, told the board that insurance renewal figures "came in on Monday, and we received that as a little over 3%," compared with the 10% assumption built into the draft budget. "We had budgeted for 10," he said, and staff had previously estimated a $175,000 savings; a subsequent line-by-line review produced an additional $47,517 in savings, Peter said.

Those adjustments lowered the district's request for local tax appropriations compared with last year. Peter said the district's total request is roughly $20 million and that the local appropriation request is about $242,093 less than last year, a reduction he characterized as a -2.56% change from the prior local ask.

The chair called the meeting to order, explained the timing requirement for delivering final district numbers to the municipal council, and opened the budget presentation. "Since this is a special meeting, the only thing on our agenda is the first reading of the 2025–2026 school budget," the chair said. The chair noted the municipal council will consider the municipal budget on its scheduled readings, so the district needed to finalize and submit its numbers in advance.

After the presentation, a board member moved to take a first reading of the proposed budget and the motion was seconded. The chair asked for discussion; remarks praised staff for their work. The chair then called the vote: "Hearing none, all in favor of approving the first rate of the budget as presented," and stated the vote was unanimous.

The first reading does not adopt the budget; it is a procedural approval that moves the proposal forward for further review and formal adoption steps. The chair also confirmed an upcoming board meeting time (corrected to 5 p.m.) and said the municipal council will take up its readings on its schedule.

Action recorded: the board approved the first reading of the proposed 2025–26 school budget and will forward the figures for inclusion in the municipal budget process.