Voters pass $2.1M AOS 98 budget
Residents pass a summary motion March 4 to approve the $2.1 million AOS 98 budget for FY26. FRITZ FREUDENBERGER/Boothbay Register
Residents pass a summary motion March 4 to approve the $2.1 million AOS 98 budget for FY26. FRITZ FREUDENBERGER/Boothbay Register
Voters passed a $2,134,343 budget for the 2026 fiscal year at the Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 annual budget meeting March 4. Around 50 residents from Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Southport and Georgetown participated at the Boothbay Region Elementary School gym.
Overall, the budget is a $318,673 (17.6%) increase from FY25. Costs are split between special education ($254,444) and system administration ($1,879,799), which respectively increased $9,782 (4%) and $308,891 (19.7%). The district said the budget remained the same as approved by the AOS 98 board in January.
According to AOS 98 chair Heather Sinclaire, salary and benefits were some of the biggest drivers for increases, adding that the central office is understaffed compared to similarly sized districts.
"One of the things we have really tried to do with this compensation package is recognize that a lot of people are working up to, and slightly beyond, what is required of them within their existing job title, and we are trying to be as appreciative of that as possible in the only way we know how," she said.
Another significant increase comes from a move to absorb the office of technology into AOS 98. Formerly, the cost was in the CSD budget, reimbursed as needed by other schools. However, the board agreed the position regularly provides services that span the five towns, and its cost is better placed at the AOS level. The process will take two years. This year’s portion, the bulk of the change, resulted in an over $100,000 increase.
The budget included $21,000 in reductions from last year, the largest being $13,000 less for special education professional development. In addition, the budget includes $1,212,807 in funding, a 17.5% increase mostly from charges for services to the Educational Service Center.
The total FY26 $921,536 cost to member schools is split between Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District ($541,310), Edgecomb ($190,758), Georgetown ($139,428) and Southport ($50,040). The CSD’s allocation increased 16.7%, Edgecomb’s increased 20.5%, Georgetown’s increased 10.3%, and Southport's increased 42.2%.
