RSU 38 approves FY2027 spending warrant; Article 16 decided by written ballot

Regional School Unit No. 38 residents meeting May 13, 2026 approved the district's fiscal 2027 spending warrant and its line-item articles, with one article decided by written ballot.

Dr. Karen Smith, the superintendent who identified herself at the start of the meeting, opened the session and thanked administrators, staff and residents of Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield and Wayne for their role in shaping the recommended budget. "This is my first annual budget meeting with this district and I'm grateful to be here this evening," she said.

Richard A. Spencer was nominated, sworn in and took the chair as moderator. He reviewed meeting procedures — including how to propose and vote on amendments, and the statutory requirement that certain articles be decided by written ballot — and, by voice vote, allowed several RSU administrative staff to speak if finance questions arose.

The school board recommended and the meeting approved the line-item expenditure articles by category. Notable recommended amounts announced at the meeting included $9,442,965 for regular instruction (Article 2); $3,802,011 for special education (Article 3); $4,031,361 for facilities maintenance (Article 10); and $1,340,162 for transportation (Article 9). Article 15, which provides $105,000 in local support for the school food service program and equipment replacement, was approved by voice vote.

Article 20, which authorizes the board to accept and use grants and donations, listed recent grant receipts and an estimated incoming total for the coming year of $707,786 (examples cited: Title I-A $168,158; Title II-A $54,892; Title IV $16,711; local entitlement $411,876). The meeting approved Article 20 by voice vote.

Because state law required a written ballot for the article that raises additional local dollars to fund the recommended budget, the moderator directed attendees to use the pink ballot for Article 16. After ballots were collected, the moderator announced the results: 89 yes, 5 no. He declared Article 16 — the $7,177,562 in additional local funds that exceeds the state's EPS allocation and is required to fund the recommended budget — approved.

Several remaining administrative and reserve articles also passed by voice vote, including the establishment of a capital reserve fund (Article 21), a special education reserve fund (Article 22), and renewal of the tuition agreement with the Fayette school department for grades 6–12 (Article 23), which was reported to bring approximately $875,000 in current-year revenue.

The moderator reminded attendees that adoption of the school budget requires a second step: a validation referendum. The referendum is scheduled for June 9, 2026 in each town in RSU 38; the meeting's approvals must be validated there to finalize the FY2027 budget.

Votes at a glance

- Article 2 (Regular instruction): School board recommendation $9,442,965 — approved (voice vote). - Article 3 (Special education): $3,802,011 — approved (voice vote). - Article 4 (CATC tuition): $0 — approved (voice vote). - Article 5 (Other instruction/co-curricular): $658,563 — approved (voice vote). - Article 6 (Student support/technology): $2,479,734 — approved (voice vote). - Article 7 (System administration): $847,365 — approved (voice vote). - Article 8 (School administration): $1,440,086 — approved (voice vote). - Article 9 (Transportation): $1,340,162 — approved (voice vote). - Article 10 (Facilities maintenance): $4,031,361 — approved (voice vote). - Article 11 (Debt service): $0 — approved (voice vote). - Article 12 (Other expenditures — food services): $114,337 — approved (voice vote). - Article 13 (Local contribution per state EPS model): amount determined by statute/ED279 report — approved (voice vote). - Article 14 (Non-state funded debt service): $0 recommended — approved (voice vote). - Article 15 (Additional local support for food service): $105,000 — approved (voice vote). - Article 16 (Additional local dollars required to fund FY2027 budget): $7,177,562 — approved (written ballot) 89 yes, 5 no. - Article 17 (Authorize school board to expend the recommended budget): approved (voice vote). - Article 18 (Use additional state subsidy to reduce local assessment): approved (voice vote). - Article 19 (Adult education programs): approved (voice vote). - Article 20 (Accept/use grants and donations): estimated incoming $707,786 — approved (voice vote). - Article 21 (Capital reserve fund): approved (voice vote). - Article 22 (Special education reserve fund): approved (voice vote). - Article 23 (Renew tuition agreement with Fayette for grades 6–12): current-year revenue stated as $875,000 — approved (voice vote).

What happens next: The meeting-adopted warrant and articles will be placed on a validation referendum ballot on June 9, 2026 in each RSU 38 town. If the referendum validates the meeting's actions, the FY2027 budget will be final.