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RSU 04 board narrows budget-referendum timeline, adds June 18 workshop
Summary
The RSU 04 board reached a consensus to adopt a new budget by July 10 and added a June 18 workshop to continue budget work, citing hiring timelines and towns’ absentee-ballot lead time as key factors.
The Regional School Unit 04 board signaled consensus on a compressed schedule for a new budget referendum, agreeing to aim for a July 10 adoption and to add a June 18 workshop to continue budget negotiations.
The timeline options were presented by district staff: an accelerated path to allow a July 30 referendum and a slower path modeled on last year that would push the referendum into August. “One is really obviously a quick turnaround,” the superintendent said when laying out the options. Board members weighed tradeoffs including towns’ requests for time to process absentee ballots, hiring timelines for positions tied to the budget, and the logistics if a school closure (discussed previously) were to be required.
Board member Bob (committee member) argued for the July 10 date so a newly seated representative could participate in adoption; another member said towns commonly ask for about two weeks to process absentee ballots. Several members urged more frequent meetings to finalize cuts and staffing decisions: “I believe the July 10 date is probably the most workable, but I would also like us to be able to… have a meeting every other week to get the budget nailed down,” a member said, pressing for added workshop time. After discussion, the board gave a thumbs-up consensus favoring the July 10 adoption and agreed to add a June 18 meeting to begin deeper budget work.
Why this matters: an earlier adoption shortens the window for public review and affects hiring; several members said earlier adoption could help secure stronger candidates for open positions, while others emphasized predictable scheduling for towns and the public. Staff noted that if the board approves at the June public meeting, towns need time to print and distribute absentee ballots; two weeks is the typical request from town clerks.
What’s next: the board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 26 and will include budget discussion; staff will proceed with the actions needed to meet the adopted timeline if the board’s direction holds. The board did not take final votes on the budget at this meeting but approved adding a June 18 workshop and proceeding toward the July 10 adoption timeline.
