The Winslow Town Council held a school budget workshop on March 26 with Superintendent of Schools Peter Thiboutot and the district’s administrative team to review the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 school budget and hear a facilities improvement presentation from an outside engineering firm.
Thiboutot opened the meeting by thanking his administrative team for their work preparing the budget, which began in January and included reviews across 11 cost centers. He framed the presentation around a recurring theme: the budget is built on needs, not wants.
The total budget request is $21,669,334.87, an increase of $699,329, or 3.3 percent, over the prior year. After accounting for state subsidy, tuition revenue, grants, and other sources, including $350,000 drawn from the district’s undesignated fund balance, the proposed local tax appropriation increase is $112,512.86, or approximately 1.22 percent. Thiboutot noted that figure could decrease once health insurance costs are finalized in April.
State subsidy is projected at $10,941,948, an increase of $550,354 over last year. The district is projecting 54 tuition students, primarily from Vassalboro, generating approximately $750,000 in revenue. The district also shares staff and services with neighboring communities, including a maintenance director, occupational therapist, and courier, along with cost-sharing arrangements for functions such as HR, accounts payable, transportation, technology, and food service.
The total budget request is $21,669,334.87, an increase of $699,329, or 3.3 percent, over the prior year.
Thiboutot highlighted several cost-saving measures, including a solar array that reduced electrical costs by approximately $25,000, and a cooperative fuel oil bid locking in 60,000 gallons at $2.52 per gallon. He also noted the district completed a $2.2 million elementary school addition in 2023 using COVID-era funds at no cost to local taxpayers.
The district serves 1,129 students across three schools and employs 224 staff. Thiboutot presented student outcome data showing 79 percent of the Class of 2025 went on to post-secondary education, with assessment scores in English language arts, math, and science above state averages. Math scores have improved over the past three years. He also noted that 52 percent of students are economically disadvantaged, 27 percent receive special education services, and 13 students are currently unhoused.
Special Education Director Christine Schmidt said the district currently has no high-cost out-of-district placements, instead maintaining three self-contained day treatment programs within its schools. She noted that out-of-district placements can cost between $67,000 and $110,000 per student annually. The district employs two doctoral-level school psychologists who conducted 118 evaluations last year. Thiboutot said contracting those evaluations externally could cost over $2,300 per student, compared to a combined in-house salary of approximately $147,000.
An unfunded mandate also drew attention during the presentation. The state’s paid family medical leave program adds $65,437 in costs to the current budget, though implementation details are still being finalized. Thiboutot said the district may need to revisit contract provisions once additional guidance is issued.
Councilor Michael Joseph raised concerns about budget transparency, requesting a detailed, line-by-line breakdown including staff salary information. Thiboutot said the district had already responded to a similar request and noted such requests are uncommon, expressing concern about the impact on staff morale. Other councilors and a school board member noted that salary information is publicly available and that recorded budget workshops provide additional detail. West encouraged councilors to review those materials.
Council Chairman Frances Hudson referenced the broader financial pressure on residents, noting that some taxpayers are struggling and that a significant portion of property tax revenue supports the school system. Town Manager Marc Amaral said the issue extends beyond the school budget, noting the combined municipal and school spending for a town of approximately 8,000 residents is approaching a tipping point. He called for closer coordination between the town and school administration in future budget cycles.
Councilor Ray Caron and Councilor Lee Trahan both expressed support for the budget as presented. Councilor Katie Otis said she was not prepared to take a position, raising questions about instructional approaches and the overall budget process. She also referenced declining assessment trends since 2020, though Thiboutot noted that changes in testing methods limit direct comparisons.
Following discussion, a majority of councilors indicated interest in seeing a reduced proposal, though no specific target was formally set. Joseph proposed increasing the district’s use of its undesignated fund balance from $350,000 to $500,000 and reducing the overall budget by $750,000. While some councilors viewed that figure as too aggressive, it was discussed as a starting point for further discussion. Thiboutot requested a defined target to guide revisions, stating that without one, planning becomes difficult and could impact core services. The council agreed to revisit the discussion at a future meeting.
The meeting also included a presentation from Energy Management Consultants of Portland, which recently completed a year-long assessment of the district’s facilities. The firm reported that while the buildings are well maintained, much of the mechanical infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life.
Proposed capital improvements include options structured around a tax-exempt lease purchase, timed with the expiration of an existing bond. The base option, including boiler replacements, LED lighting upgrades, and system improvements, would require approximately $192,000 annually starting in 2027. A more extensive option would increase that cost and include heating and cooling upgrades.
The firm also identified a limited-time opportunity through Efficiency Maine, offering enhanced incentives for LED lighting upgrades if approved and completed within a specific deadline.
The council is expected to provide more direction at its next regular meeting, on April 13, at 6 p.m.
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by William Paquet
