Over 130 residents gathered in the Boothbay Region Elementary School gym May 21 to vote on the $12,742,897 Community School District budget. Voters passed all 21 articles by an overwhelming majority, with fewer than about 10 “against” votes for any motion.

The budget represents a $1,000,577 (8.5%) increase in costs from 2024, according to documents provided by the CSD. The total assessment will be $10,575,485, a $1,100,733 (11.6%) increase, divided between Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. According to the district, Boothbay has 264 students and will pay 36.7% of the costs while Boothbay Harbor, with 123 students, will pay 63.3%. Compared to the previous fiscal year, Boothbay will be responsible for $7,177,619 (a 20% increase), and Boothbay Harbor will be responsible for $3,397,866 (a 2.7% decrease).  

At the meeting, some residents asked questions about the budget and increases. Several expressed concern about the costs including the tuition rates, salaries and benefits, administrative costs, and how the state reimburses expenses. Other questions were aimed at clarifying budget figures and procedural norms. 

The largest budget increases involve a $105,087 (4.5%) increase in elementary instruction, a $94,838 (8.3%) increase in special education elementary instruction, a $159,568 (77.3%) increase in technology at the high school, and a $274,589 (17.6%) increase in facilities maintenance.

As the Register has reported, the outcome May 21 does not mean the budget has formally passed. Following the new school charter, the meeting was an opportunity for residents to discuss and set the budget figures. A second vote, the Budget Validation Referendum, is Tuesday, June 11. Unlike the May 20 vote, in-person attendance is not required for the budget validation, and there are absentee options available. The one-question vote will ask if residents approve the school budget as set at the District Budget Meeting. If that vote does not pass, the process would start over and continue until voters approve a budget.