RSU 60 staff presented the district's January financial summary, reporting an estimated $263,000 deficit for fiscal year 2025 while flagging several offsets that are likely to reduce that shortfall.

The district finance update noted that utilities and transportation costs have moderated, and that bank interest and a rebate from energy-efficiency work will help the bottom line. "We are approximately 42% remaining in our year. So we're over halfway," said Audra, a district staff member responsible for the revenue update. Audra told the board the district is "right on track with state subsidy and local revenue" and that multiple revenue variances and expense moderations were being monitored.

Why it matters: out‑of‑district placements for special education and uncertain state reimbursement were called out as the largest revenue/expenditure drivers. The district has two students now attending an out‑of‑district program at the Birch Tree Center, which the presentation estimated costs "somewhere in the $140,000 to $150,000 a year range." The presenter said state rules require the district to assume responsibility for some portion of very high-cost placements and that the district had budgeted for three or four such students but currently has two, reducing the expected offset revenue.

Other revenue and cost details presented included: bank interest running at roughly $16,000–$20,000 per month and an anticipated additional $80,000 for the year; a one-time HVAC/efficiency rebate of $78,200; utilities (oil, propane, electricity) showing roughly 40–42% of budget remaining; and transportation with about half of its budget still unspent following a quieter winter season. The report concluded that, while the headline variance is a $263,000 deficit, unfilled positions and lower-than-expected expenses in some categories mean the net effect is likely to be mitigated by special-education funding and the offsets noted.

District staff said they will continue monitoring spring enrollment and state subsidy adjustments and will bring updates during the upcoming budget workshops. The board did not take formal budget votes during the presentation; the financial summary was presented for information ahead of scheduled budget deliberations.