RSU 22 budget shows 5.65% proposed increase; personnel costs drive most of the growth

Administrators told the committee the proposed FY26 operating budget includes a $2,206,208.79 increase over the current year — a 5.65% rise — and that $1,930,563.60 of that increase is salaries and benefits.

The packet presented to the committee lists a total budget figure (the meeting packet cited approximately $41,206,220). Administrators explained that personnel costs represent roughly 87.7% of the year-over-year increase and that personnel (salaries, wages and benefits) account for roughly 73% of total expenditures in the proposed budget.

Committee members discussed the effect of prior-year use of fund balance: last year the district used approximately $3 million of fund balance to lower assessments; administration cautioned that not repeating that action would raise tax assessments this year. Members asked administration to model alternative scenarios using different fund-balance draws (for example, $500,000 or $1,000,000) and to circulate a detailed line-by-line FY26 packet so municipal officials and residents can review the components.

Transportation and maintenance highlights: Administration told the committee the SIR Bus contract is being adjusted downward from 28 contracted buses to 23 — a change that reduces the transportation contract line to match the buses actually used. Committee members asked for route prints to confirm why two buses sometimes travel similar roads in town; administration agreed to bring route details to the next meeting.

Reserves and fund balance: Administration reported plans to use $150,000 from a fuel-stabilization reserve and $50,000 from an energy reserve (total $200,000) to reduce Article 9 (maintenance) for FY26; the committee discussed that funds not expended during the current fiscal year become undesignated fund balance and cannot be directly earmarked for FY26 spending without a budget allocation.

Ending: Committee members asked administration for a detailed FY26 line-item file, revenue scenarios showing alternative fund-balance draws, and bus-route documentation ahead of the May 14 presentation and May 21 adoption vote.