The Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 board unanimously approved a proposed $2,134,343 budget for the 2026 fiscal year Jan. 14. The budget is up more than 17% from last year’s, partly due to absorbing technology services, spreading associated costs across five towns. The budget will go to public vote later this year for final approval.

Overall, there is a $318,673 (17.6%) increase, split between special education ($254,444) and system administration ($1,879,799). It also includes $1,212,807 in funding, a 17.5% increase mostly from charges for services to the Educational Service Center (ESC).  

The board also passed the new cost allocations, based on population and enrollment changes. The total $921,536 cost to member schools is split between the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District ($541,310), Edgecomb ($190,758), Georgetown ($139,428) and Southport ($50,040).   

The largest change was absorbing the office of technology into the AOS 98 budget, resulting in an over $100,000 increase. 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 in the AOS.   

“It’s an AOS system, (the technology director) is doing it AOS-wide. I can talk about the work she's been doing in Georgetown, and we haven't been paying our fair share,” said Georgetown representative Alaine Pinkham.  

According to board members and school officials, the change increases efficiency and eliminates the need for some reimbursements. However, they said the smaller towns will face larger up-front tax increases. To spread the immediate costs, the board agreed to transition the technology director's salary and benefits over the course of two years. However, a $52,555 line item for software subscriptions was transferred in this year’s budget.  

CSD representative Jennifer Whitney said if her towns were hit with the increase, they would want the same graces. “I think it's just doing our community, taxpayers and neighbors right.”  

The CSD’s allocation increased 16.7%, Edgecomb’s increased 20.5%, Georgetown’s increased 10.3%, and Southport's increased 42.2%.   

In other business, the ESC board passed its annual budget in a meeting that directly followed. The $1,175,307 budget is up $183,303 (18.5%) from the previous year. According to the district, almost all of it comes back to AOS 98 as revenue.