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.