Voters passed a $2,432,590 budget for the 2027 fiscal year at the Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 annual budget meeting March 17. Around 20 residents from Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Southport and Georgetown participated at the Boothbay Region Elementary School gym.     

The budget is $10,368 less than what the AOS 98 board approved Feb. 4. AOS 98 Chair Heather Sinclair explained that when the numbers were originally calculated, the board anticipated health insurance premiums could rise by about 20%. However, the premiums ended up capping at 14%.  

“It's not hurting anything, in my opinion, to reduce the amount that we are asking for (in light of this new information),” said Sinclair.  

The 2027 budget, which goes into effect July 1, increased $298,347 (14%) from FY26. This sum is made up of special education ($265,649) and system administration ($2,166,860), which increased $11,205 (4%) and $287,061 (15%) respectively.  

The total FY27 $1,070,632 cost to member schools is split between Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District ($622,251), Edgecomb ($224,940), Georgetown ($153,207) and Southport ($70,234). The CSD’s allocation increased 15.5%, Edgecomb’s increased 18.5%, Georgetown’s increased 10.4%, and Southport's increased 41%.