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RSU 24 budget proposal shows 6.75% spending increase; board asks committee to seek reductions
Summary
RSU 24’s preliminary budget proposal shows a 6.75% increase in expenditures with local assessments up about 10.35%; the board asked the budget committee and leadership to pursue further reductions and suggested a 9% target for adjustments.
The RSU 24 budget committee reported a proposed district expenditure increase of about 6.75% and a projected local assessment increase near 10.35 percent, driven primarily by pay raises, higher benefits costs and increased tuition for school-choice students.
Committee members said that after removing items outside local control (tuition for choice students, certain benefit changes and nutrition adjustments), the net new local cost would be roughly $253,000. The superintendent reiterated that labor-market pressures and increased insurance premiums are major drivers and said administration had budgeted for roughly a 15% insurance increase as a conservative projection.
Board members discussed target reductions and the process for developing options. One trustee moved that the board send the budget back to the budget committee to seek deeper cuts; another member suggested a goal of reducing the proposed increase to about 9% as a starting point for discussions. The board asked for specific suggested cuts to be provided to administrators and for board members to attend budget workshops scheduled in the coming weeks.
Officials noted that impacts vary by municipality within the RSU: one example cited was that Franklin residents would see a projected increase of about 16.2% under the draft plan. The board directed staff to return with options that could trim the proposed increase ahead of final meetings.
