RSU 22 budget passes after written ballot; residents press officials on nurse cuts and reserve balances

RSU 22 voters approved the district’s fiscal 2026–27 spending plan on June 4 and passed a written-ballot article to raise additional local funds, while residents pressed administrators about cuts to school nursing coverage and money held in reserve.

The meeting, held as a residents-only budget session, ended with the key written-ballot item (Article 14) passing 51–10. Moderator Mike Busher and ballot clerks ran the vote mechanics; the board presented the full slate of line-item articles for regular instruction, special education, transportation, facilities and other cost centers, and residents offered questions during several article readings.

Why it matters: The budget includes reductions in student-health staffing and reallocated central-office positions that will affect how services are delivered in the district’s schools. Voters also were told the district is carrying an unallocated fund balance above the state guideline, which officials said they intend to draw on in part to reduce local taxes.

Nursing and student health. During Article 5 discussion, a resident asked for specifics about the district’s nursing coverage. An administrator said the district currently funds 4.3 nurse FTEs and plans to move to 4.0 FTEs next year, citing lower enrollment and the elimination of one 1.0 FTE district health/wellness director (previously partly funded by one-time/state/co funds). The administrator described current coverage as uneven — some buildings do not have a nurse physically present every day — and said the district will rely on health aides and on-call coverage to fill gaps. "Right now we currently have a total of 4.3 nurses ... the intent for next year is to move to 4.0," the administrator said.

Central office and personnel changes. Under Article 6, officials described a central-office staffing change that increases the recommended appropriation: a 27-hour grant specialist position will be converted to a full-time (40-hour) role that combines grant work with human-resources duties and will include health insurance. The administrator said the change responds to new state requirements such as paid family and medical leave and the district’s need for HR coverage for roughly 350 employees.

Reserve balances and tax relief. During Article 15 — the sum total appropriation — residents asked why the district still holds money in reserve and whether that should lower taxes. Officials said the budget proposes carrying forward $500,000 from the unallocated fund balance to help reduce taxes and that the district is "about a million and a half" over the statutory 9% guideline on undesignated fund balance; they said the excess is being managed with plans to spend it within three years and that some funds (for example a previously discussed administrative building allocation) sit in reserve accounts until an additional vote authorizes spending.

Votes at a glance. Most articles were approved as recommended by voice/raised slips; Article 14 (additional local funds) was decided by written ballot and passed 51 yes to 10 no. (Individual tallies for other articles were not read into the record during the meeting.)

What comes next. The moderator closed the meeting and reminded residents that town voting is scheduled for Tuesday. Several residents were directed to follow up with district staff for detailed account balances and staffing assignments; administrators said they will continue to provide information on specific FTE assignments and reserve-account balances.

Reporting notes: Quotes and numbers in this article are drawn from the RSU 22 budget meeting transcript. Where the meeting text contained typographical errors (for example, references to "RSC22"), this article uses the corrected district name RSU 22 and standard statutory naming (Maine Revised Statutes) for clarity.