Portland board presses selectmen over use of $520,000 in state supplemental aid

Portland — The Portland School District’s board of education spent a large portion of its June 2 meeting hashing out how to handle a $520,000 state supplemental appropriation that district officials say is intended to serve both property‑tax relief and education.

Superintendent Charles told trustees the statute’s language is “complicated” and that the district is slated to receive $520,000 in a check the board will need to allocate. He said the town could instead reduce its local levy collection by that amount and keep the district’s budget flat — a mechanism that has left local officials uncertain how the money will be applied. “The way the law was written was is complicated,” Charles said, describing the funding as intended “both for property tax relief and to enhance education.”

Board members expressed concern that if the town retains the entire pot the district would face a roughly $200,000 shortfall already exposed by rising health‑insurance and other costs. Charles said the district is currently estimating a $200,000 deficit driven largely by health‑insurance increases and timing of budget approvals, and that some positions and services are at risk if the town reduces its local contribution.

Trustees discussed a compromise to split the funding between property tax relief and education, which one board member described as staying “true to the intention of the legislation” that created the aid. The board’s chair said she would carry that message to the Board of Selectmen at its meeting the following day and urged trustees to attend the town deliberations, which include multiple public hearings and town‑meeting votes.

The superintendent also warned of a potential multi‑year “cliff” if the supplemental aid is one‑time funding and not renewed, and noted another tranche of state assistance is allocated in fiscal 2028 but that legislative changes could alter that outlook.

What’s next: Board members said they will press the Board of Selectmen to allocate at least part of the funds back to the district so the 2026–27 budget does not require additional cuts. The board plans to take formal action at its June 16 meeting to commit any funds the district receives and to adjust its budget accordingly.

Officials quoted: Charles (Superintendent) provided the funding explanation to the board and urged caution in planning until the town’s action is clear. Board members did not record roll‑call tallies for the discussion; a later procedural motion to approve the meeting calendar passed unanimously.