Voters cut more than $400,000 from Maine School Administrative District 58’s proposed budget at the May 18 hearing. About 60 people attended.

“The general feeling was a need for reduction in most areas,” Superintendent Laura Colombia said.

The largest cut was for maintenance and repair of school properties — from $1.89 million recommended by the school board to $1.69 million by voters, a $200,000 difference.

The second largest cut was for special education resources. The recommended amount was $3.35 million, but voters lowered it by $80,000, bringing it to $3.27 million.

Residents reviewed 11 articles and reduced the funding for all but four: career and technical education resources, extra-curriculars, debt service commitments, and other expenditures such as school lunches.

Colombia said that while she accepts whatever voters decide, she has been releasing information about the potential impacts that some cuts could have on children’s education.

“I don’t want to be fear-mongering,” Colombia said, “but I also want to be realistic. Like, hey, when you cut this much money, we don’t have that much money in supplies, it’s not like we’re just going to cut supplies.”

The district budget for 2026-27 is $13.21 million. It will receive an increase in state funding of $171,095, which will automatically increase the local share of $143,750 and contribute to an average increase of 6.13% to Kingfield, Avon, Phillips and Strong taxpayers, according to the district.

Colombia said that even though voters can decide to change the amount allotted to specific articles, it is still up to the district to decide where to use the money.

“They (voters) can cut money from an article, but they can’t say we want to cut an HR position,” Colombia said. “They can say we want to cut $100,000 from it, but then I get to, with my team, if that budget passes, decide how the funds are used.”

Residents expressed disappointment with the move, saying that many of the votes came from people with no real stake in the school system.

“Thirty-four people, using a script advising where to make cuts, changed the course of 500+ children’s educations by successfully cutting $472,000 from next year’s operating budget,” Jennifer Pooler, the district business manager, wrote in a Facebook post. “The blatant disregard for district operations by 34 people was not only irresponsible, but will have a direct impact on the fragile culture and climate of our schools.”

Others online expressed they were happy with the move and commended the 34 voters who lowered the budget, saying that with rising prices, they shouldn’t have to foot the bill for the district.

Monday’s meeting was the first step in the budget approval process. Voters will go to the polls in their towns to make a final decision June 9.

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