The Community School District (CSD) boards approved a proposed $11.4 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year this week, but there were bumps along the way. April 8, the School Committee passed an approval with moderate discussion. The next day, the Board of Trustees narrowly approved its portion, while members expressed concern about the process and if their votes even mattered.   

The $11,407,413 budget is an $891,768 (8.5%) increase from 2025. According to Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler, the increases are mostly due to a rise in costs of goods, staff benefits and salaries.  

Voters still need to approve the budget, and there will be a public hearing and budget validation referendum before it is finalized. Dates have not been set.  

Boothbay is responsible for $7,737,805, which is about 68% of the cost allocation and a $560,186 (7.8%) increase from last year. Boothbay Harbor is responsible for $3,704,756, a $306,890 (9%) increase from last year. The district reported June enrollment numbers used to calculate figures showed 254 students from Boothbay and 120 students from Boothbay Harbor.   

The district reported the budget is also funded by $2,245,042 in revenue, including $1,360,990 in tuition and $789,052 in state subsidy.  

This year, the district assembled a subcommittee with members of the administration and boards to prepare the budget before going to the whole boards. School Committee member Jenn Whitney, who was on the subcommittee, said it was beneficial to both the process and transparency.   

“We asked really hard questions of the teachers and of the administration to ensure that students weren't going to be negatively impacted,” Whitney said. “It seems to have adjusted itself to a very decent and productive budget so that the students can benefit the most.”   

However, not everyone was pleased. School Committee member Stephanie Hawke, also on the subcommittee, said the costs are not sustainable. “I know that it's to nobody's fault. It's insurance. It's negotiations. It's a lot of stuff within it. But I can't support that. There are people that can't even get milk. And we've gone nuts,” she said.   

The School Committee approved its portion of the budget 5-1. Hawke voted against it. The board also approved the $105,415 FY 2026 adult education budget in a matching 5-1 vote.   

April 9, the Board of Trustees approved its portion of the budget by one vote. Ronnie Campbell, Matt Doucette and Paul Roberts voted yes, Darrell Gudroe and Troy Lewis voted no, and Sewall Maddocks abstained.   

“I feel personally pretty strong that if we keep putting this on the taxpayer, we won't have to worry about the schools anymore,” Maddocks said about CSD budget increases. “I don’t support the budget for that reason.”    

The trustees' $1,873,030 portion, which is included in the overall budget, is mostly for facilities maintenance costs, a $35,321 (1.9%) increase from last year. It also includes $380,000 in debt service and $250,000 in other spending for capital projects and food service.

Trustees generally agreed their budget was reasonable but some expressed concern about voting on it. According to members, the board has not received a complete financial picture from last year because the audit has not been completed. Gudroe and Lewis said they wanted all figures available before deciding and were concerned that deficits, if they exist, could spill over to FY26. Lewis said he did not think anything improper was happening but wanted more transparency.  

“You're forcing us to wait for the audit to know how last year's budget ended, and that just kind of makes me uncomfortable,” Lewis told the Register. "I don't feel that we know the financial state of the district without having that information.”  

According to Kahler, Maine has a shortage of qualified auditors so there is a backlog delaying audits. He said the district could provide a report but, without a completed audit, it would be presented without confidence, and he questioned the point. However, Kahler was confident the total CSD budget will not go over.  

However, the discussion sparked a greater concern about whether the trustees' vote counts. According to Kahler, the School Committee votes on the complete CSD budget, which they had already approved. In past years, the trustees voted on their portion first. This year’s process left trustees doubting their role, and Gudroe said it's another reason he voted against it. During the meeting, he and other board members expressed similar frustration.   

“If we were to not vote this forward, would that stop the rest (of the budget)?” Campbell asked Kahler, who replied “no.” “Then what the hell are we voting for?” Campbell said.     

The board decided to vote on its budget to record its position and in case the process was misunderstood. Members also prioritized the issue for their subcommittee investigating the trustees' legal roles and responsibilities with an independent lawyer.   

“If we don't vote on this, it doesn't matter. Why did we come here tonight?” said Roberts. He said he supports both budgets, but big-ticket items consistently get out of control.