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Sanford committee previews school budget, warns voters of funding gap and June 9 referendum
Summary
School leaders told the Sanford School Committee that a preliminary $127,539.99 cut to the district's FY27 Title I allocation and other cost pressures are shaping the proposed 2026–27 budget, which is slated for a voter referendum on June 9 with early voting through June 4.
The Sanford School Committee on May 18 heard a budget overview ahead of a June 9 voter referendum that Superintendent (name and role shown in meeting) said is shaped by rising expenses and a recent drop in federal Title I support.
The superintendent read a notice from the Maine Department of Education federal programs team saying Sanford’s preliminary FY27 Title I Part A allocation is “substantially lower this year” than last, with a stated reduction of $127,539.99. The superintendent told members the decline is tied to a statewide decrease in federal funds, improved local census poverty data and a slight enrollment dip, and that staff expect to offset the reduction through a Title I summer reallocation grant and available Title I carryover funds.
Why it matters: committee members were given a line-by-line preview of the budget and the referendum logistics. The administration said the proposed combined city-and-school budget would add roughly $0.89 to the mill rate and used a $300,000 house example to show an annual tax impact of $267. The superintendent emphasized that Sanford’s per-pupil spending ranks low compared with peers while student needs remain high.
Supporting details: the presentation traced the budget’s development from initial figures, noting an earlier committee reduction of more than $500,000 and additional city council adjustments. The administration said the proposal includes targeted additions—two middle-school teachers to lower student-to-teacher ratios, a world language teacher, two interventionists (math and ELA), a special-education resource-room teacher, an attendance coordinator, and two special-education ed tech positions at the high school—offset in part by revenue and program changes.
The superintendent also outlined calendar changes that affect staffing and scheduling next year: five distributed early-release days instead of weekly early release and two teacher workshop days (Oct. 9 and Mar. 12). The full 2026–27 calendar and budget documents were posted to the district website and will be presented at a public hearing at the city council meeting the following evening.
Quotes: “We had a reduction of $127,539.99,” the superintendent said when reading the Maine DOE communication. “That’s unfortunate, and we’ve reviewed next year’s Title budget alongside current expenditures; we’re confident we can offset the funding reduction through the Title summer reallocation and carryover,” the superintendent added.
Next steps: the public hearing on the budget occurs at the City Council meeting; the voter referendum will be held June 9 (polls 7 a.m.–8 p.m., at Sanford High School/SRTC). Early voting is available at City Hall Monday–Thursday through June 4. Members encouraged residents to review posted documents before voting.
