Lewiston superintendent outlines $130M FY27 budget, proposes about 30 position reductions and seeks congressionally directed funds for 287 Main St.

Superintendent Phoenix McLeang on March 16 presented the superintendent's version of the Lewiston Public Schools FY27 budget to a joint meeting of the school committee and city council, outlining a roughly $130 million spending plan, proposed reductions of about 30 positions and a May 12 referendum on the school portion of the budget.

"We are at about 5,400 students currently," McLeang said, summarizing district size and staffing, and added the superintendent's budget includes about 1,112 full-time staff (1,384 total positions including part-time roles). The proposal would use approximately $3.5 million of the district's fund balance and asks voters to approve the school budget in a May 12 referendum after a school committee vote expected May 5.

Why it matters: Committee members pressed for specifics because the proposed reductions affect day-to-day student services. McLeang identified several major cost drivers that shaped the FY27 request: special education costs (an increase the presentation pegged at about $5 million), transportation changes (about $2.5 million), a utilities increase of roughly $742,000 tied to a new contract, workers' compensation increases (about $892,000), and health-insurance…