FARMINGTON — The Regional School Unit 9 board of directors unanimously approved a $46.2 million budget last week, clearing the way for a districtwide meeting next month.
The budget’s bottom line matches the proposal from the administration and Budget Committee. It reflects a $681,547, or 1.5 percent, increase over the current fiscal year. A shift between two revenue subcategories will result in slightly lower town assessments than the district previously projected.
Cost drivers include inflation, negotiated salary increases, an 11.5 percent jump in health insurance premiums and higher repair costs tied to years of deferred maintenance.
RSU 9, also known as the Mt. Blue Regional School District, is bracing for potentially higher heating and transportation expenses amid continued volatility in global fuel prices.
The administration and Budget Committee cut $1.6 million before presenting the plan to the board.
The district plans to use $1.2 million from its unassigned fund balance to lessen the budget’s impact on the tax rate.
The cuts include six positions: a math teacher and half of a science post at Mt. Blue High School; three classroom teachers at Academy Hill, G.D. Cushing and W.G. Mallett schools; and a districtwide custodial job.
All of the teaching roles were held by staff members who are retiring or otherwise leaving at the end of the year.
The budget adds one position by making permanent a Cascade Brook School teaching job created last year on a one‑year basis. It also expands a gifted and talented post from three‑fifths to full time.
A survey of 14 western Maine districts and their proposed budgets as of mid‑March found that RSU 9’s 1.5 percent increase ranks near the bottom.
While proposed spending did not change, towns would see a slight drop in what they are asked to raise — from a 1.44 percent increase to 1.29 percent.
The shift comes from reallocations between the “local required contribution” — the amount districts must raise to receive full state funding under the Essential Programs and Services model — and the “additional local allocation,” which covers spending beyond EPS and is paid entirely by the towns.
If approved as recommended, the budget would leave four towns with lower assessments to support RSU 9: Weld at $602,000, a drop of $58,061, or 8.8 percent; Temple at $468,000, down $24,259, or 4.93 percent; New Sharon at $1.1 million, down $25,885, or 2.29 percent; and Industry at $1.11 million, down $5,018, or 0.45 percent.
Six towns would see increases: Starks at $638,000, up $28,999, or 4.76 percent; Vienna at $847,000, up $31,730, or 3.89 percent; Farmington at $5.71 million, up $209,161, or 3.8 percent; Chesterville at $1.23 million, up $19,613, or 1.62 percent; New Vineyard at $923,000, up $14,346, or 1.58 percent; and Wilton at $3 million, up $8,206, or 0.27 percent.
The 15 directors present at the April 14 meeting unanimously backed the proposed budget.
Their vote sends the plan to a districtwide meeting May 26 at the Mt. Blue Campus, where voters will set the budget by approving expenditures organized into state‑mandated cost centers.
That budget then goes to a referendum in all 10 towns, held alongside the state primary June 9. Voters will either affirm the action taken at the May 26 meeting or reject it, which would restart the process.
Information about the budget is available on the district’s website.
