The RSU 2 Board of Directors is preparing to discuss the 2026 fiscal year budget with the school district’s communities.
During a meeting the evening of Thursday, March 6, the board approved its annual budget public hearings, regional budget meeting, and special board meeting to validate referendum results.
Additionally, the board announced the dates in March that it will present a draft budget to each community in the district.
The board’s first draft budget presentation will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18 at Dresden Elementary School. Then, the board will travel to Hall-Dale Middle & High School to present the draft budget at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. Finally, community members will gather at Monmouth Memorial School at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26 to hear the final presentation of the draft budget.
The board will then hold public hearings to provide community members an opportunity to comment on the proposed budget and ask questions. Monmouth’s hearing is at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12 at Monmouth Academy, Farmingdale and Hallowell’s is at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 at Hall-Dale Middle & High School, and Dresden’s is at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14 at Dresden Elementary School.
The budget is still being worked on, but RSU 2 Superintendent Rick Amero said that roughly 80% of the budget is dedicated to staff salaries, insurance, and benefits.
The board is currently negotiating its collective bargaining agreements with the district’s teachers. Additionally, a 5% increase to dental insurance, 10-11% increase to health insurance, 25% increase to substitute pay, and 35% increase in pay for game officials in athletics are expected, Amero said.
The district is also grappling with expenses associated with unfunded state mandates, such as the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. In 2023, Gov. Janet Mills signed the creation of a paid family and medical leave program, making Maine the 13th state to establish one, according to maine.gov.
Beginning in 2026, eligible workers will have up to 12 weeks of paid time off available for circumstances such as caring for a family member with a serious illness or to care for their own medical needs. Employers and employees share the cost of the benefit through payroll taxes, which became effective on Jan. 1.
With a 0.5% payroll tax for employers, Amero said the district is estimating a cost of roughly $80,000 to cover the benefit for its employees.
Amero said other increases in the budget will include a 3% increase to utilities, a 5% increase to daily and cocurricular transportation, and a 12% increase to liability insurance.
Community members will gather at Hall-Dale Middle & High School at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21 to vote on the budget during the district’s annual meeting.
The date for the budget validation referendum has not been announced. The special board meeting to validate the referendum results is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 at the RSU 2 central office, at 7 Reed St. in Hallowell.
The next meeting of the RSU 2 Board of Directors is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 at the central office.
For more information, go to kidsrsu.org.
