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RSU 11 braces for new CATC cost share after state funding shift
Summary
Board members learned the Capital Area Technical Center will expect sending districts to contribute to a program deficit; Gardiner-area schools hold 19% of slots and staff estimated the district’s potential share in the tens of thousands, with administrators placing a placeholder in next year’s budget.
Board members heard that the Capital Area Technical Center (CATC) will no longer be fully state-funded and that sending districts will be expected to cover a share of any program deficit. Linda Caputo said Gardiner-area schools account for about 19% of CATC slots and that, based on information discussed, the district might be assessed approximately $135,000 of a program shortfall at the system level; administrators said the district’s contribution could be in the tens of thousands.
The change was described during committee reports as an unexpected but anticipated shift: district representatives said the state had long subsidized CATC but now expects sending districts to shoulder a portion of costs. Superintendent Katie Gold told the board administrators and the business office are treating the item as a budgetary priority and have placed a placeholder amount in the FY27 draft to ensure coverage while the CATC group finalizes the exact assessment.
Board members requested a presentation from the CATC director so the board can review enrollment, program capacity and the specific cost-allocation method before finalizing the district’s budget. Members raised questions about audit, program capacity, and whether full enrollment in certain programs might change the district’s share.
What happens next: administrators said they will report back after the CATC group finalizes the district-level figure and after the director meets with the board or finance committee; budget adjustments would be made through the regular FY27 process.
