Biddeford school committee advances FY27 budget after $558,000 in reductions; members press council to consider restoring $85,000 math interventionist

The Biddeford School Committee voted unanimously April 29 to move the proposed FY27 school budget to the city council after approving $558,000 in reductions that administration said bring the preliminary tax impact to a 2.9% increase.

Superintendent Ray outlined the adjustments and urged the committee to forward the spending plan. "I urge you tonight to pass the budget as presented," he said, framing the reductions as a response to an earlier revenue-sheet error and the goal of staying under a 3% municipal impact.

The administration’s cuts included pausing a planned digital media program (about $200,000 in equipment and a position), delaying a new middle-school math interventionist (estimated $85,000), shifting vocational equipment purchases to Perkins funding, trimming a $65,000 high-school purchase order, and identifying transportation and software accounting corrections that yielded more than $120,000 in savings. Superintendent Ray described the math interventionist as "the one that I feel is really the most harmful for us."

Committee members repeatedly endorsed the staff’s work while urging reinstatement of the interventionist if the council or other sources free up funds. "I will absolutely vote for this budget in recognition of the great work that the staff have done," said Committee member Amy, who also stressed the district’s long-term underfunding relative to state averages. Liam provided an immediate calculation when asked about the math position’s effect: "$85,000 would be 3.19%" if added back in, indicating the administration’s net figure was tied to the district’s tax-rate threshold.

The committee also discussed mechanics for how the council could amend the budget before it goes to voters: the school budget goes to city council first, where members can add or remove line items before ballots are prepared. The superintendent said the board could explicitly request the council consider one targeted restoration — the middle-school math interventionist — and provide backup paperwork to support that ask.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved the consent agenda and prior minutes earlier in the meeting; it then moved the FY27 budget forward by unanimous vote. The first reading before the city council is scheduled for May 5 at 6 p.m.; the second reading is May 7 at 6 p.m., ahead of absentee-ballot preparation for a June 9 school referendum.

What’s next: the board moved the budget forward to the city council; council deliberation and any amendments will determine whether the math interventionist or other restorations are added back before the referendum.