Regional School Unit 56 board Chairperson Barbara Chow of Dixfield, left, speaks at the Feb. 11 board meeting at the Regional 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico as Superintendent Pam Doyen listens. Doyen told directors at the Feb. 25 meeting at Dirigo High School in Dixfield that the rough estimate for the proposed 2025-26 budget is a nearly a $1 million increase just to maintain personnel and programs. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times

DIXFIELD — Regional School Unit 56 Superintendent Pam Doyen has advised directors that the preliminary 2025-26 budget is nearly $1 million more than this year to maintain current personnel and programs.

The spending plan is $15.24 million, which is $967,954 more than this fiscal year, which ends June 30. Payroll and benefits alone account for 4.06% of the $6.78% increase, she told directors at their Feb. 25 meeting.

The amount “is just what it takes to remain with what we currently have with staff and programs,” she said.

“We have made this lean and so that’s why at 6.78% this year,” Doyen said. “To move down from that you literally need to know you’re talking about programs and positions. You’re not going to go in there and find $500 here and $300 there because it’s not there anymore.”

The impact on member towns with this rough increase is: Canton a decrease of .86% in its share, Carthage a decrease of 1.62%, Dixfield an increase of 4.93% and Peru an increase of 2.24%.

Beyond maintaining the status quo, Doyen said there are three add-ons proposed:

• Director of Technology Brian Keene is looking for a network manager and IT specialist that would about $90,000.

• Dirigo High School Principal Kaylene Thompson is looking to continue an after-school mentoring program for $9,685, which was previously funded by Maine West.

• Kenny Robbins, director of Buildings, Grounds and Transportation, is seeking $10,000 to get half of the buses equipped with GPS systems and $26,000 for five exterior doors, one at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru and four at the high school.

With the $135,685 in add-ons, the budget increase would be 7.73%.

The impact on each town’s assessment would be 1.10% more for Canton, 0.28% more for Carthage, 7.29% more for Dixfield, and 4.40% more for Peru.

Doyen also talked about some positives in the upcoming budget.

She said the state intends to pay 55% of Essential Programs and Services for the 2025-25 budget.

“We have our $277,500 for balance forward for the FY 26 budget, so we’re not starting in the hole, Doyen said. “We’ve locked in on heating oil and diesel. We have a significant increase in our preliminary” state funding of over $830,000.

However, there are also a number of unknowns, including increases in insurances.

Doyen said a contract with teachers and a contract with central office/technology/secretary staff are being negotiated.

“We have a probable insurance increase,” she said. “We’ve been told to plan on at least 12%,” but the exact amount won’t be known in time for the budget.

They are also budgeting 10% more for an anticipated property and casualty insurance increase, she said.

Doyen said she has limited confidence in the preliminary state subsidy.

“I did ask the Maine Department of Education at a superintendent’s meeting how much confidence I should have … and there was a deep sigh from a person representing the DOE and then a huge hesitation,” she said, “and I will tell you that the air came right out of that room because I think all of us superintendents have a history of being able to rely on our preliminary, but the budget is not passed at the state level so it’s hard to bank on what I just said about the $830,000.”

Doyen said she also has concerns around federal funding for Title I and local entitlement. “As you know, there’s a bit of a showdown happening at Title I, which is just over $500,000 and local entitlement is just over $250,000, so together we’re looking at three quarters of a million dollars that I’m not sure when it will come, if it will come.”

She said they also do not yet know about a possible increase for Vocational Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico.

“With all that, we just want to remind you we won’t know our insurance until April 11. We’ll know the maximum on March 28, so I’m hoping at that point we can maybe back down from the 12%, but I’m not sure,” Doyen said.

The RSU 56 board will hold a budget workshop with selectmen from the four towns at 6:30 p.m. March 25 at Dirigo High School. The snow date is April 1.

The board will vote on the budget April 8.

A districtwide hearing and initial vote on the budget will be held May 27, followed by a final vote June 10 at the polls in each town.