After cutting the proposed 2026-27 school budget about 4% last week, the Lewiston School Committee will vote on the proposed $130 million spending package at Wednesday night’s meeting.

The budget process for the committee, like most school districts across the state, was difficult this year and even more so as the city waits for its property revaluation results.

Superintendent Jake Langlais suggested 30 positions for possible elimination at the start of the process knowing they may be necessary to reduce the impact on taxpayers. Ultimately, around the same number of positions were cut by the committee, though not all the ones recommended by Langlais.

The proposed budget is an 8% increase over the current budget, down from the 12% increase reflected by the budget first proposed to the committee.

The committee is offering two opportunities for the public to comment. The first is Wednesday at the board’s regular business meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Connors Elementary School, 400 Bartlett St.

On Thursday, Langlais is hosting “Coffee with the Superintendent” from 2-6 p.m. at The Dingley Building, at 36 Oak St.

Here’s a look at the updated proposed budget:

28 ELIMINATED POSITIONS

Originally, Langlais highlighted around 30 positions to cut.

The committee narrowed it to 28. Committee members went back and forth, with nearly every member stating why they wish they didn’t have to cut any positions.

Ultimately they chose to eliminate: teachers who support social and emotional learning; math and literacy coaches; technology specialists; education technicians and lunch duty aides; and a family engagement coordinator who helps families with additional needs, among other positions.

SOME REVENUE FOUND

The school department was informed health insurance costs would go up 7.3%. Because it anticipated a 15% increase, the department could shave $1 million from its proposed budget.

Additionally, in the past week, Maine lawmakers passed a new state funding formula for public schools. To bridge the gap between the current and new formula that’s effective next school year, the state is granting bridge supplemental revenue, Langlais said, which he estimates, without knowing the exact details, to be around $500,000 for Lewiston.

In total, the committee eliminated around $1.7 million between the health insurance costs, supplemental budget revenue, and other areas of revenue found a few weeks ago in the budget.

POSITIONS TO BE CONSIDERED

Six positions remain in flux on whether they will be in the budget.

The positions — three social workers, a librarian, a dean of students and a multilingual coach — total about $542,708.

The fate of the positions remains in the hands of the committee. Langlais recommends the approval of the positions to maintain a level of support for students, he said.

If the board agrees Wednesday, the move would increase the budget by that amount.