M.S.A.D. #61

2026-27 Budget Public Hearing

March 30, 2026

2026-27 Budget Information

2026-27 Budget Information

• Summary of Revenues:
• We received our ED279 (State Subsidy document) late January showing an increase of $258,914. This report included the following adjustment:
• An increase in CTE (Vocational) funding due to increased enrollment and program expenditures.

2026-27 Budget Information

• Summary of Staff Requests:
• 1 Grade 5 Teacher – SBES
• 1 Grade 4 Teacher – CRES
• 1 Social Worker - LRHS
• 1 IEP Coord/Billing Coord – Special Ed
• 1 Special Education Teachers – LRHS
• 1 Special Ed Health Care Technician
• 1 English Language Ed Tech III – LRHS/MS
• 1 Ed Tech Interventionist - LRMS
• 1 Full-time Custodian – LRHS/Adult Education
• 2 Stipends

2026-27 Budget Information

• After further review by Administration and the Finance Committee, adjustments were able to be made for requested positions that were not included in the proposed budget.
• Positions included in Proposed General Fund Budget:
• 1 Grade 4 Teacher - CRES
• 1 Special Ed Health Care Technician
• 1 English Language Ed Tech III – LRHS/MS
• 2 Stipends
• 1 Full-time Custodian – LRHS/Adult Education

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2026-27 Budget Information

• Larger Special Maintenance Projects included in this General Fund Budget:
• Finish Maintenance Shop in Storage Facility - $50,000
• LRHS PA System - $52,000
• LRHS Domestic Water System Pumps - $20,000
• LRHS Camera System Upgrade - $25,000
• Hazelton House siding - $28,300
• LRMS Fire Pump upgrade - $75,000
• SLS Fire Sprinkler Tank repair - $65,000
• Large equipment requests included in this General Fund Budget:
• John Deere Gator replacement (or equivalent) - $18,000
• Baseball Scoreboard replacement - $17,000
• Bus Cameras (for 3 new buses) - $13,500
• Bus Radios - $16,500
• Zero Turn Mower replacement - $15,000
• 1 Full size bus replacement - $130,000 (will be lease/purchased)
• 2 Small buses (1-wheelchair) replacement - $202,000 (will be lease/purchased)

�Regular Instruction�Grades K-12 Instruction, G/T & Field trips�

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• Total Budget for Regular Instruction is $13,839,413, an increase of $712,319 due mostly to salary and benefits but the following adjustments were made:

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• Added
• 1 Grade 4 Teacher added – Crooked River Elementary
• 1 English Language Ed Tech III – LRHS/MS

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Special Education�All Special Education Programs & Services

• The total budget for Special Education is $7,872,139, which is an increase of $237,513.

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• This increase is due to salaries, benefits, additional staffing and specialized equipment needs.

Career and Technical Education�All costs to run Vocational Facilities & Programs

• The total budget for Career and Technical Education is $2,168,190, an increase of $64,173:

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• Besides salary and benefit increases, there are no significant changes to this budget.
• An increase of $284,539 in State subsidy will help to offset the budget increase shown above.

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Other Instruction�Co/Extra Curricular Activities & Summer School

• The total budget for Other Instruction is $1,021,976, an increase of $85,867.

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• This increase includes:
• A Marching Band Advisor - LRHS
• A Chess Club Advisor - LRHS
• A replacement Baseball scoreboard
• A replacement John Deere Gator (or equivalent)

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�Student and Staff Support�

• Student and Staff Support includes Guidance Services, Social Work Services, Library/Media, Nurses, Technology, Curriculum and Student Testing.

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• The total budget for this article is $3,586,144, which is an increase of $65,746:

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• This increase is due to salary and benefit increases.

�System Administration�Superintendent’s Office, Business Office, School Board�

• This article provides staffing, legal services, software, supplies, equipment and other necessary costs to run the Central Office.
• The total budget for System Administration is $1,231,906 which is an increase of $81,958. This increase is attributable to:

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• Salary and benefit increases.
• Increase in Audit services (required)

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School Administration�School Administration and Office Staff

• This article provides staffing, supplies, equipment and other necessary costs to run the School Administrative Offices.
• The total budget for School Administration is $2,029,573 which is an increase of $98,103:

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• Salaries and benefits make up this increase.
• No significant changes to these areas.

Transportation�Regular and Special Education transportation

• The total budget for Student Transportation, which includes Regular and Special Education transportation, is $2,801,835, which is an increase of $224,531 which includes:

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• A 3-year lease/purchase for 3 buses – 1 full-size and 2 small buses (one with a wheelchair)
• Bus cameras for 3 new buses
• New Bus radios for increase service and communication

Facilities and Maintenance

• The total budget for Facilities and Maintenance is $4,661,512, which is an increase of $552,452:

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• Salary and benefit increases
• 1 full-time custodian has been added and shared with Adult Education
• Special maintenance projects
• Replacement equipment
• Utility cost increases

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Debt Service

• The total budget for District Debt Service is $1,108,318, which is a decrease of $731,588.
• LRHS QSCB Bond retired in April 2026.
• Current debt budgeted:
• LRHS/VOC/ESB (2 bonds) Construction/Renovation will be paid in full in the years 2030, 2031
• Crooked River Elementary School Construction/Renovation will be paid in full in 2040

All Other Expenditures�Community Use of District Facilities

• The total budget for All Other Expenditures is $50,000:

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• This Article funds our Community Use of Facilities program.

Adult Education

• The total budget for Adult Education is $645,220 which is an increase of $50,220, mostly for additional custodial support. The local portion is $328,780.
• Adult Education Program provides the following services:
• Administration
• College & Career Access/Student Supports
• Operations/Maintenance
• Certified Nurses Aide
• Adult Vocational
• Adult Literacy
• Instructional Technology
• Learning Center (Students aged 16-20)
• Community Enrichment Programs

GENERATORS

• Recent winters have shown us how vulnerable our communities are with respect to communication and warming shelters when it comes to major storms and power outages.
• Currently, Crooked River Elementary, Stevens Brook Elementary and Lake Region High School are the only facilities that have a generator for back up in the event of such situations.
• The estimated cost to install the other locations with a back-up generator would be:
• LRMS - $315,000
• SLS - $245,000
• ESB (Bus Garage) - $165,000

Total = $725,000

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GENERATORS

• Realizing that the cost to do all remaining buildings at once is a large amount, we will be requesting to outfit the Educational Services Building (Bus Garage) with a back up generator. This will be an additional referendum article to be voted on by the taxpayers during the District budget meeting.
• The cost for installation at this facility is estimated at $165,00. If this article passes, the approximate cost to each of the three towns will be as follows:
• Bridgton $70,076
• Casco $43,550
• Naples $51,374

�Town Assessments�

Total increase in assessments = $1,487,872

Note: Budget increase = 3.57%

Assessment increases = 3.29 to 7.96

Town Assessments - Seven-Year Avg

Town Valuation History

Highlighted - 3-Years used in Averaging for 2026-27 State Subsidy (ED279)

Next steps…

QUESTIONS…