$16.9M Dexter-area school budget moves to referendum
DEXTER — Voters in the Dexter-area approved a proposed 2026-27 school budget of more than $16.9 million at the public meeting at Ridge View Community School on May 27.
This figure now moves to a referendum vote in the SAD 46 district towns of Dexter, Exeter, Garland and Ripley on Tuesday, June 9, to coincide with the general Maine election.
The proposed $16.9 million budget rose by more than $285,000 (nearly 1.55%) from this year’s $16.6 million.
An additional $30,000 amended the regular instruction line, which is over $5 million, following a request from the audience.
The request asked the additional funds be used for health insurance expenses for support staff including ed techs, food service employees and secretaries. Where exactly the money goes is up to the school board.
Superintendent Kevin Jordan thanked directors, administrators and budget committee for their work on the draft budget that began in early January.
The two-fold district mission for the budget is a desire to provide excellence in education for the whole community of learners and for staff, administration and directors to work together to create a budget that best balances the efficient delivery of quality services with the fiscal responsibility required by local taxpayers, Jordan said.
The first draft of the 2026-27 budget totaled nearly $18 million with all the initial requests from administrators included, he said. Many miscellaneous cuts reduced the figure by just over $1 million.
The combined tax commitment across the four SAD 46 towns is $3.9 million. This amount is up $155,605 (4.1%) — before the additional $30,000.
“The biggest impact on that is the valuation increases in our communities,” Jordan said.
The state aid and local share is a 75-25% split, he said.
SAD 46 is set to receive $11.3 million in state subsidy in 2026-27.
Each town’s share will rise. The budget includes local required and local additional amounts, debt service and the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative budget.
Dexter’s portion would be up 2.258% to $2.1 million, Exeter would see a 7.777% rise to more than $717,500, Garland would pay 4.97% more at $683,000 and, for Ripley, a near $412,000 share is 6.298% more.
June 9 poll hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Dexter Town Hall, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at Exeter’s town office, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Garland Community Center and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Courser Memorial School in Ripley.