In a joint meeting Monday with the school committee, Lewiston city councilors worried that the proposed $130.6 million budget for education was too great a burden for taxpayers.

However, councilors stopped short of asking for more cuts from the budget, which as proposed features a 11% increase even as it cuts 30 positions.

“I know taxpayers are good people with families, and it’s getting to a point where the money simply doesn’t exist,” said Bret Martel, Ward 7 city councilor. “As much as we’d like to do the things we want to do, we don’t have the tax base.”

Superintendent Jake Langlais said increases to negotiated salaries, utilities and health insurance costs were among the biggest factors driving the increase, and were beyond the school department’s ability to control. 

A few members of the committee asked councilors what they expect them to do to continue to meet students needs.

Meghan Hird, a committee member representing Ward 6, said more children are coming to school with greater needs. Some are even arriving for kindergarten without being toilet trained. In response, the school department must hire more staff for specialized assistance at a time when it is being pressured to eliminate positions, she said.

Janet Beaudoin, a committee member from Ward 2, said the committee is regularly tasked with cutting its budget, and asked if the council is cutting any positions from its budget.

Beaudoin and Hird pointed out that some of the school department’s costs, such as the utilities contract, were negotiated by the city. Energy costs have increased $742,000 in the proposed budget.

Beaudoin pointed out that the council approves the city budget, while the school budget must be passed by the council and then voters.

“When it comes to how many checks and balances the school committee has compared to city councilors, you can pick the budget and don’t have to put it to referendum. Not only do we (need public approval), but we also need your approval. It’s extremely frustrating,” she said. 

City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath said he has cut $4.1 million from the 2027 city budget so far.

City councilors’ questions were mostly about the eliminated positions and how they assist students, and when the committee estimates the budget process will wrap up.

Committee Chairperson Phoenix McLaughlin from Ward 1 said there are more budget meetings this week and next, and the committee is still waiting on figures that could affect spending, including health insurance costs and the property tax rate from the city once the property revaluation is finished. 

Councilors agreed to help the committee apply for federal funding for the school department’s 287 Main St. building that, if secured, could provide millions of dollars for the rehabilitation of the vacant building, which is slated for additional classroom space. 

The next school committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Connors Elementary School at 400 Bartlett St.