Bangor School Board sets Oct. 21 budget hearing, begins referendum planning

The Bangor School Board voted to set its annual budget hearing, annual meeting and a special board meeting for Oct. 21, 2026, at 6 p.m., and heard administration’s initial work on long‑range finance planning.

Board President (Chair) called for and the board approved the meeting date on a motion by Joanie, seconded by Jessica. The vote carried. The scheduling will allow the board to hold the budget hearing first, followed by the annual meeting and a special meeting, all on Oct. 21.

Supervising administrator Dr. Brackup told the board that he and a colleague have signed up to use the Baird forecast model this year to build a multi‑year picture of district finances and to test whether a three‑year, nonrecurring operational referendum will be needed. "The first step will be, in November, Angie and I will attend a workshop, and we'll get our model and start to put in some of the specific numbers to start to lay out what the next five years look like," he said.

Dr. Brackup said administration expects to begin detailed outreach and modeling this fall and aimed to decide in the summer of 2027 whether to pursue an operational referendum in fall 2027. He added the district could still consider a spring 2028 referendum for the 2028–29 school year if needed.

Why it matters: a successful referendum would affect the district’s operating budget and could change tax or revenue timelines. The board did not vote on any referendum language at the meeting; the discussion authorized planning, workshops and further modeling. The board will revisit detailed financial modeling and any formal referendum proposal in public sessions before placing measures on a ballot.