What is the total proposed budget for the 2025-2026 school year?
The proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget for Maine Regional School Unit 21 totals $62,611,350. This represents an increase of $3,338,648, or 5.63%, over the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget.
What are the key priorities in this budget?
The 2025-2026 budget strategically prioritizes three critical areas:
Workforce development (competitive compensation and benefits)
Student needs (appropriate staffing to meet evolving student population needs)
Infrastructure enhancement (maintaining and improving facilities to accommodate continued student growth)
Why is this budget increase necessary?
While the staffing levels remain relatively flat (only 1.3 FTE increase), the budget increase is primarily driven by:
Contractual salary and wage increases (59.43% of the total increase)
A 12.96% increase in health insurance premiums and 6.5% increase in dental premiums (major portion of the 35.17% benefit cost increase)
Legally required provision of services under student's Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
Restoration of System Administration budget cuts
Tax Impact Questions
How much will taxes increase for the district?
The overall need for taxes for fiscal year 2025-2026 is $54,338,527, representing a 7.93% increase over the taxes raised in fiscal year 2024-2025.
How will this budget affect property taxes in each town?
The tax impact varies by town:
Arundel: 7.6% increase ($466,505)
Kennebunk: 7.5% increase ($2,330,617)
Kennebunkport: 9.2% increase ($1,195,179)
What is the estimated tax increase per $100,000 of assessed property value?
Arundel: $105.02 per $100,000 of assessed value*
Kennebunk: $26.00 per $100,000 of assessed value*
Kennebunkport: $31.00 per $100,000 of assessed value
*Note: These figures will change for Arundel and Kennebunk as both towns are undergoing property revaluation.
How will property revaluation affect my taxes?
Both Arundel and Kennebunk are currently engaged in a property revaluation process. This means:
The total assessed value for both towns will increase
Individual property values within each town will be reassessed
The actual increase in school-related property taxes will depend on how each property's value changes in relation to the town's total valuation
Budget Details Questions
What is the total number of staff positions in this budget?
The budget includes funding for 509.875 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions, which represents an increase of 1.3 FTEs from the previous year.
What are the major changes in non-labor expenses?
While there was a reduction in debt service (Kennebunk Elementary School) and school nutrition support, these savings were offset by:
Approximately $747,000 increase in Special Education expenses ($480,000 for out-of-district tuition plus contracted services)
$310,000 restoration of System Administration expenses (legal, auditing, insurance, HR budget for ADP processing fees and TNTP survey costs)
$56,000 net increase in transportation expenses for the lease purchase of two Type C school buses
What changes were made between the First Read and Second Read Budget?
Several adjustments were made by both the Finance Committee and School Board, including:
Adjustments to employer retirement contribution percentages
Addition of a KHS STEM teacher position
Health and dental insurance rate increases
Changes to staffing proposals (Communications Department FTE, HR position, District-Wide Float Nurse)
Decision to lease rather than purchase two school buses
Addition of a Middle School/High School Drug/Alcohol Counselor
Elimination of vacant bus driver and bus aide positions
Budget Process Questions
When will the final budget be voted on?
The Second Read Budget was approved by the School Board of Education on April 14, 2025, and all warrant articles were approved at the annual District Budget Meeting on May 5, 2025. The budget will go before voters on June 10, 2025.
How was this budget developed?
The budget development process included thorough analysis of:
Enrollment trends
Staffing requirements
Curriculum needs
Facility maintenance priorities
Each line item was carefully reviewed to ensure efficient use of taxpayer funds while still meeting the diverse needs of the student population.
Why is the district describing this as a "flat budget" despite the increase?
Although the overall budget shows a 5.63% increase, it's considered "flat" because:
Staffing has remained relatively stable with only a 1.3 FTE increase
Most of the increase is due to fixed costs beyond the district's control:
Contractual salary increases
Significant health and dental insurance premium increases
Legally mandated special education services
Where can I find more detailed information about the budget?
The comprehensive budget document includes detailed explanations of budget allocations, comparative data from previous fiscal years, and projections that inform planning. You can find this information in the tabs referenced in the budget document, particularly Tab C which breaks down salary, benefits, and other expenses.
