[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6238366,"mediaKeyId","3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482","parentId",3352717,"title","District budgets for facilities upgrades and new bus‑routing software; Jack Memorial HVAC and LED project cited","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1950000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482&start=1950&end=1950","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482/thumbnail_1950000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6238366/Maine/District-budgets-for-facilities-upgrades-and-new-busrouting-software-Jack-Memorial-HVAC-and-LED-project-cited","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238366-3d7bdc0cccbc147a55b036d848e44d5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162934&Signature=B4TO0~1SBMc5lfq~2euhRGHdbWS~zlFvHhAEUIlIgCSI7Fdx56lOMd46bhaXXbCpmSfKZU9yq9ce6Bgz4WDn4bv~yvzO5gOrr4TNOTT6DBL~ccaK2Tl-OvgVdnHZe5a0ahxcQtNdfuZpOkK1ch1eE8fYh~1T-89bFL6FHKcFzxO8lLspBqItCVE-5eQUOMjLBwIsnhELnB8eKg19jiYs8eDAfQAjRIBsyyd4AQ8uHZLiyfvBXLmhXGMvEoFTZCoGDAzla93BbrHPWEKcJPpHU~M2rcVDUu1zJCp-CWufQXmby1oCmT~~6iyAvwHfmAEI~Ja50SLcIgXlD3oQ~WcZbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MSAD 06","date","2025-05-17T03:44:40.787Z","article","RSU 06 officials presented facilities and transportation items included in the 2025–26 budget: an energy‑efficiency investment (EEI) project, HVAC work at the Jack Memorial Building, and a bus‑routing software purchase that includes a parent app.

Superintendent Clay Gleason described the EEI project as a long‑term investment to reduce electric bills by installing LED lighting and other efficiency measures. He said the district’s payment for the EEI project is “almost like a lease payment of $210,000” and that the whole project is “about over $2,000,000… over 20 years.” Gleason said lighting is only part of the project and stressed potential energy savings across all district buildings.

Gleason also said the Jack Memorial Building houses core technology infrastructure and that its HVAC and boiler system are aging: “the boiler's 40 years old… the HVAC is failing, so we need to replace it.” He said the cost of a failure and moving technology out of that building would likely exceed the replacement cost.

On transportation, Gleason noted historical bus driver shortages and a prior pay correction to recruit drivers; the budget includes an approximate $65,000 expense to purchase routing software previously funded by the state. He said the software will support an app so parents can track buses in real time, and the district has been unable to fill a mechanic position for more than a year, which is why one mechanic position was removed from the budget.

Ending: The district framed the facilities and transportation expenses as investments to reduce long‑term operating costs and to modernize services, while acknowledging short‑term budgetary impact.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MSAD6 District Budget Meeting May 15th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","RSU 06 budget includes a multi‑year EEI energy upgrade (lighting and infrastructure) with an annual payment of about $210,000, replacement of failing HVAC at the Jack Memorial Building, and a $65,000 one‑time cost for bus‑routing software that will provide a parent app; the district also noted a vacant mechanic position it could not fill.","taxTitle","RSU 06/MSAD 06, School Districts, Maine","taxId",76980,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6238371,"Special education and student‑support costs rise as district emphasizes in‑house programs",96,1504000,1600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482&start=1504&end=1600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482/thumbnail_1504000.jpg","/articles/6238371/Maine/Special-education-and-studentsupport-costs-rise-as-district-emphasizes-inhouse-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238371-7d30a923a013b5f2f1c1defad7a87b12/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162934&Signature=TGvD-xr58toOsEHZf6VThhaTSvWR9vemmBrnmATFt22uirHJn1zmMhDTWPUlvCJ9N4sPyXNcRU5voryR5na991FrHnvWec9PkzZM6K60W7v8huoj4FW5HanMG8OXnRkuhX4oQuBuzbjerNGoZPFdpVIyb5cW3jkeq0wYHa8B~CcS9vZlnerh3yju9dv6sX6HnrbSw3cWbk8v6J3FqyblzWIeW4aFO0DjjhNWS6C5BmjloeGi5JzMYRtKDoSr-1-W5XcpGaJLJmene8o0wLKHIU3uYfqhGdQbLR1BS7sW3p~N3cJ1OBCn9SWQWaoe8-nZz114wgRZebNCefmboPv9ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","RSU 06 presented increases for special education and student‑support services, citing higher local special‑education rates and the need to budget contingencies for unanticipated placements.

Superintendent Clay Gleason said Article 2 (special education) shows a 7.55 percent increase driven by salaries, benefits and a larger contingency for potential out‑of‑district placements. He said the district’s special‑education population is about 21 percent, higher than the state average of 14 percent, which increases local costs. Gleason added the district operates programs “in house” that would otherwise cost “over $100,000 each” if students were placed outside the district, resulting in net savings even with higher local spending.

Gleason also reviewed Article 5 (student and staff support), noting that previously unbudgeted technology and software renewals—firewalls and a tech lease moved from Article 1—increased the article’s non‑labor costs. He said the district moved those recurring technology costs into the operating budget to be transparent about expenses that had previously been supported with grants or e‑rate funds.

Ending: The district framed higher special‑education and student‑support budgets as responses to pupil needs and as steps to contain overall costs by providing services locally rather than placing students out of district.","RSU 06 proposed a 7.55% increase for special programs to cover additional staffing, benefits and contingencies; the district said it runs higher‑cost programs in‑house to avoid >$100,000 out‑of‑district placements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6238376,"Superintendent: enrollment decline, staffing adjustments and rising health‑insurance costs drive budget choices",191,1002000,1193000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482&start=1002&end=1193","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482/thumbnail_1002000.jpg","/articles/6238376/Maine/Superintendent-enrollment-decline-staffing-adjustments-and-rising-healthinsurance-costs-drive-budget-choices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238376-06ab89388a28729c1fcda0dca6b1bcdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162934&Signature=g~7wJpZ1I4Tjua5zR94uw4AhNMLr84~LzgTLCRABpRUuETGQbEr-kQuI~QSV-S1TR-~qL0kiWtmwTNESnCmEgLtK-HCu-uc3UJ8KIlznPEIgRy2adKPfNeMHaDW89KyZR~RCn0WXzz7qqy38-Jmvu9JBpXYkM~S58eV-8x3M~U7nywXaVrCXk8DtImUsFpTDKbSD5LGINTvjHSoe4Auem5OeDrVptpPDusaLTOPjZuvohEDAoV~KL9HCqHy52dc136Rqro~uA185CdlxyWM1pMUzH06tDKpbgbp1vWlNKvrze91vNaCJa6Tf3cBCop6xC22jrTiw4HjxQ3ndIICRzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Clay Gleason told RSU 06 voters the district’s budget choices reflect declining enrollment, staffing adjustments and sharply higher benefits costs.

Gleason said the district has “about 300 more fewer kids than we did 10 years ago,” and that the administration reduced six instructional positions and one mechanic in the proposed budget. He said high school enrollment has fallen below 1,000 students for the first time in memory and that the administration expects enrollment to stabilize “right about a thousand for the next few years.”

On staffing and class size, Gleason reported average class sizes of 16.7 districtwide in elementary grades, about 20 per homeroom at the middle school, and departmental averages of 15 to 18 at the high school after the proposed reductions. He said the district now attracts and retains more candidates after recent salary adjustments, noting, “Three years ago, we were losing people out the door to neighboring districts. We did not pay a competitive wage… We are not having that problem anymore.”

Gleason emphasized benefits as a major driver: “80% of our budget is our people, that's approximately $1,000,000 each year. So in the last 2 years we added $2,000,000 just for health insurance costs.” He said the district will try to “shop it out” but noted collective bargaining constraints.

Ending: The superintendent presented staffing and benefits changes as part of the district’s effort to match personnel levels to enrollment trends while maintaining instructional coverage.","Superintendent Clay Gleason told voters the district has about 300 fewer students than 10 years ago, prompting reductions of six instructional positions and one mechanic in the proposed budget, and noted a multi‑year rise in health insurance costs that added about $2 million over two years.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6238380,"RSU 06 voters approve $65.8 million school budget; Article 14 passes by written ballot 53‑6",2867,982000,3849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482&start=982&end=3849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3352717-e27f42c2e762395d1c5c508e15c45482/thumbnail_982000.jpg","/articles/6238380/Maine/RSU-06-voters-approve-658-million-school-budget-Article-14-passes-by-written-ballot-536","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238380-ee496af1ec4a91bb3372a8ab5330aa89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162934&Signature=G-rmOFK6E7RIRNipE44IvpLKkooLcXvomtBmUP6DbFhztIUCtRm3ylzBpF0xeCgonQ~eqog7UU8GhjTFMemyPkCGijmDBgcfUzr8dso-6vkamC-URxBujz0nD87dxVvx3xeKSzeRDvpTNpm9rNFTlsr3g8JrjiS68c7-sC-2azLtZfoYYWnG0-gOAExFqQqPrBAzimyNO4KdIOg8xwtaUG3B9NrSnrkBY24nLj2ObWrdbuBQFud~nGTgUxl5EffOWIFAyT2L~FbaCGiWrw0dWCLtaEaxpSW2EXP5Agl8T1OOwkLl2H0tulFU-dlOiGtyl7Zng3KxBAuc6RnGe7HuXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","RSU 06 voters approved a $65,803,011 school budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and passed Article 14, which authorizes $11,121,298.06 in additional local funds, by written ballot 53 yes to 6 no at the district budget meeting on May 16, 2025.

Superintendent Clay Gleason outlined the budget before the vote and said the district will use $4.5 million of fund balance in the proposed budget. He told voters the total general fund request is $65,803,011 and that, when food service and adult education are included, “it is about just under $69,000,000.”

The vote on Article 14 required a written ballot. Moderator William (Bill) Stockmeyer directed clerks to distribute ballot boxes and instruct voters to check the yes or no box; the final tally announced at the meeting was 53 yes and 6 no. The meeting then approved the summary budget article authorizing the board to expend $65,803,011 for the 2025–26 fiscal year.

Gleason explained the district’s tax impact and state subsidy context: the proposed budget produces an average tax increase of about 3.77 percent across the towns served by RSU 06, with each town’s share determined by state valuation rules. He also summarized state funding reporting required by statute and read the district’s required allocation article referencing the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding act and Maine Revised Statutes Title 20‑A as printed in the warrant.

Questions from the floor focused on fund balance and how much the district is using from reserves; resident Bill Hall cited audit figures and state guidance about the recommended 5–9 percent fund balance. Gleason responded that the district is using about $4.5 million of fund balance in this budget and said the administration is monitoring the fund balance “and looking at next year trying to wean ourselves off continued reliance on fund balance.”

The meeting also approved the individual expenditure articles (Articles 1–13 and 15–20) by voice or card vote as read on the warrant. The moderator read each article, motions were made and seconded “as written,” and the articles carried.

A written referendum validating the budget will be held in local voting booths and absentee ballots, with a separate, triennial ballot question on whether to continue the current budget validation process.

The district cited Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20‑A (the Essential Programs and Services funding act) and statutory provisions governing required local contribution and capital reserve accounts on the warrant and during the reading of the articles.

Ending: With Article 15 and the remaining financial and program articles approved, the moderator closed the meeting after answering procedural questions about the budget validation referendum and adjourned the session.","Voters at the RSU 06 budget meeting on May 16, 2025 approved a $65,803,011 fiscal‑year 2025–26 budget and a contentious Article 14 raising $11,121,298.06 in additional local funds; Article 14 was decided by written ballot, 53 yes to 6 no.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District budgets for facilities upgrades and new bus‑routing software; Jack Memorial HVAC and LED project cited

Special education and student‑support costs rise as district emphasizes in‑house programs

Superintendent: enrollment decline, staffing adjustments and rising health‑insurance costs drive budget choices

RSU 06 voters approve $65.8 million school budget; Article 14 passes by written ballot 53‑6