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RSU 18 board delays final FY27 school budget vote pending health-insurance numbers
Summary
The RSU 18 board discussed the FY27 school budget but held final action until health-insurance rates arrive (expected early April). Staff explained $800,000 of the district's proposed revenue relies on unassigned fund balance and warned against depleting the reserve over multiple years.
The RSU 18 board heard an extended budget discussion on the proposed FY27 school budget and deferred final action until the district receives health-insurance rates expected in early April.
A staff member told the board the district should not take final action at this meeting because health-insurance numbers that materially affect the budget should arrive around the 7th. "I don't want to take action on the budget at this point in time because I really think we need to wait for that," the staff member said, and noted three board members were absent.
The staff member explained the proposed FY27 budget includes using $800,000 of unassigned general-fund balance (drawn from about $3.5 million in unassigned funds) to offset taxes this year. He warned that repeatedly using the unassigned fund balance would erode reserves and could leave the district exposed in future years: "In four short years, the fund balance is gone," the staff member said, urging caution about rolling large balances forward.
Board members raised questions about line-item fluctuations and coding of director wages; presenters said some historical variability reflects alternating large one-time printing/advertising costs and pandemic-era enrollment effects. Several members said they want a clearer breakdown of line items (including the school-board line and insurance) and requested health-insurance estimates and a more detailed budget presentation before voting.
The board agreed to delay a final vote and planned to meet again before the statutory deadline to act on the FY27 budget.
