RSU 9 board reviews $45.15M FY25 draft budget, proposes 4.37% local assessment increase

Superintendent presented the proposed FY25 budget for RSU 9 on the board's agenda, saying the district plans a $45,150,670 spending total and that the local assessment to towns would increase by about $633,770, or roughly 4.37%.

Board members and administrators framed the proposal as a mix of recurring and one-time spending. The superintendent said the 8.26% overall increase in the budget largely reflects the restoration of programs and positions funded temporarily by federal ESSER dollars, expanded support for early grades and special education, and the use of balance-forward funds to ease immediate taxpayer impact.

Why it matters: the draft budget determines the services RSU 9 can maintain next year and shapes what voters in member towns will be asked to fund. Administrators told the board they planned a presentation to the community and will finalize figures after the budget committee and public feedback.

Key details and drivers
- Total proposed FY25 budget: $45,150,670; overall increase shown in the draft: 8.26%.
- Proposed local assessment to towns: approximately $633,770 (reported as 4.37% impact to taxpayers). Administrators said they will correct small computer-reporting errors before final materials are distributed.
- Balance forward use: administrators proposed using prior-year fund balance for several one-time or transition items, including a $600,000 increase to a district reserve and a $250,000 building-renovation account that would require voter approval.
- Early-childhood and PD investments: a $125,000 community school pilot grant is planned to be spent over 2.5 years to support children in their first 10 years (pre-K through early elementary), and a three-year professional development plan would use $125,000 in year one (total $375,000 over three years).
- Special education: current identified special-education students were reported around 397 with 47 active referrals; administrators said the district expects billable MaineCare reimbursements to grow (planning assumptions included $400,000 returned this year and a projection of about $1.2 million next year), enabling expansion of billable hours and hiring of a clinical coordinator and a BCBA to manage services and paperwork.
- Foster Career & Technical Education Center: Foster Tech funding comes directly from the state; the center reported about 405 full-program students (including partner and some homeschool students), near 96% capacity with only roughly a dozen slots remaining. Some programs that relied on grants are being transitioned into regular funding lines.
- Operations and insurance: plant and operations lines rose about 4.5% for maintenance and contracted services; administrators used a 20% insurance increase assumption in the draft. Debt service was reported as reduced due to falling outstanding debt.

Board reaction and next steps
Board members praised the clarity of the presentation and expressed concern that a tightly crafted budget risks being cut if voters reject it. Several members asked for public-facing explanations about what could be trimmed if voters demand lower spending. Administrators said they will present revised materials to the community and the budget will be finalized after public hearings and committee review.

The board scheduled a community presentation on the draft budget and will return the proposal to voters according to statutory timelines. The superintendent emphasized some items are funded from prior-year balances and recommended clear voter communication about what balance-forward usage means.

Ending
The board moved on to the consent agenda after the budget discussion and set a community presentation for the draft budget before a final vote.