Orono board approves preliminary 2026–27 budget, cites stability and classroom spending

The Orono Public Schools board approved the district's preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026'27 following a presentation that described the plan as "stable." Director of Business Services Nick Tainter told the board that about 82% of general fund operations and 82% of operating expenditures go directly to classroom instruction and personnel.

"Stewardship is one of our core values," Tainter said, summarizing the budget framework and the district's position after modest enrollment growth. He told the board that roughly 70% of revenue comes from the state and about 24% from local property-tax levies, and that a 1% enrollment uptick helps preserve stability.

The presentation outlined fund structure (several restricted funds and two general-fund components for operations and capital), statutory restrictions on transfers between funds, and a projection that the district's unassigned fund balance would reach roughly 6.5% by the fiscal-year end with additional growth thereafter. Tainter said the board's longer-term aim is an approximate 10'12% reserve to reduce borrowing costs and strengthen fiscal flexibility.

Board members praised the finance team and the facilities committee for the preparatory work. Todd, speaking for the committee, flagged an unrelated facilities consideration: the district's impervious-surface percentage is about 30%, under an approximate 40% threshold that would trigger costly mitigation if exceeded.

After discussion the board approved the preliminary budget by voice vote. The action satisfies the state statutory requirement to adopt a preliminary budget before June 30 and allows staff to proceed with the next steps for final budget adoption later this year.