LEWISTON — School committee members unanimously approved a 2025-26 budget Monday night that would raise the educational portion of property taxes 3.44%.

The proposal now goes to the City Council next month before a public hearing and vote in May.

Committee members Megan Parks, Iman Osman and Meghan Hird were absent Monday.

There are still some uncertainties about some budget items, which made some committee members uneasy about approving the spending plan.

The increase to employee insurance was a point of discussion because it was unclear exactly how much it would be.

Superintendent Jake Langlais said it will likely be another couple of weeks before administrators know the amount, but the committee can revisit the cost should it be significantly over or under what is expected.

Administrators budgeted for a 10% increase in employee insurance, but it could be as high as an 18%, he said. If it is the latter, it could raise the local assessment, but enough to go over a 4% increase.

Langlais’ goal was to keep the increase at or below 4%, he said. The proposed budget would increase the property tax rate for education from $13.33 to $13.79 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The overall proposed spending plan is just under $118.1 million, a 6.78% increase from the current year’s $109.64 million, which was an 8.5% increase over the previous year.

The majority of Lewiston’s budget is covered by state funds.

The state subsidy for the school department this year is $70.6 million, an 11.65% increase compared to the department’s approved state subsidy in the current year. The department also gets funds from the state for other items.

Last year, residents voted the proposed school budget down twice before approving it July 9, 2024. Langlais said he is hoping to avoid that this year.

The budget will be presented to the City Council on April 8, then councilors will vote on the budget May 6. A public hearing is set for May 12, before the public vote May 13 at Governor Longley Elementary School.