DIXFIELD — RSU 56 will be presenting a current proposed budget of $15,168,750 to its four member towns.

The budget hearing/validation meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. May 26 at Dirigo High School.

The school board voted 7-2 to approve a 6.21% hike in the proposed budget at their meeting on April 29.

With this budget, member town share for Canton decreases by 2%, Carthage would have a decrease of 2.7%, Dixfield an increase of 3.5% and Peru an increase of 1%. It was noted that Dixfield is seeing an increase because of a significant increase in valuation.

Superintendent Pam Doyen said, “As a board, I think anybody that you can talk to would agree that their household budgets are going up more than 6%. And I think the school board at 6% is pretty tight. We are not even going to have everything we had this year. We are cutting positions and programs in order to keep it at 6.2%.”

She said positives include significant increase in their preliminary ED 279 (over $838,000). They have $277,500 for balance forward in FY 26 budget. The district has locked in heating fuel, diesel, etc. Their share of the
Region 9 increase is only $1,200. And health insurance came in at a 3.2% increase

Unknowns has one contract currently being negotiated, a probable property and casualty insurance increase (budgeted 12% initially), and concerns around federal funding (Title 1 and Local Entitlement), which is about $750,000 for RSU 56 each year.

To go with a 6.21% increase, the board had to make cuts that included a special ed tech at the high school ($57,914) and one classroom teacher at the elementary school ($79,000).

The proposed budget includes $134,000 in proposed cuts that the board wanted to put back into the budget. This included a math interventionist at $41,671, the tennis teams at $13,400, the chess club at $2,700, and guidance software for 9,000. These total $66,771 and all are subject to change depending what happens to their federal funding.

The board is waiting to prioritize the remaining $67,203 until the unknowns are finalized.

Doyen said, “If we do not get our federal funds, we will not to looking to change your 6.21 budget increase, but as the administrative team, we will be looking at how to do we support the elementary school because you’re talking about two teaching positions and seven ed tech positions that are paid out of Title 1. So we would have to reroute this and other things in order to support the elementary school.”

She added, “I have some pretty grave concerns on not having federal funds and not being able to support the elementary school.”

Director Bruce Ross asked what the budget increase would be if the $134,000 had been taken out of the budget.

Business Manager Mary Dailey responded that the increase would be 5.3%.

Following an executive session, the board voted unanimously to accept a three-year Teacher’s Contract.

Doyen said the new Teacher’s Contract will take effect on September 1, 2025. Teachers will receive around a 5% increase each year of the three-year contract. There are no big changes in the overall contract language.