Brunswick Voters Back $61.2 Million School Budget, Approve Tax Increase

Brunswick residents narrowly approved a $61.2 million school budget Tuesday, greenlighting a property tax increase that will exceed 5 percent in the coming fiscal year.

The budget measure passed with strong support, drawing 5,865 votes in favor and 1,697 opposed. The approval sets the stage for a 2.7 percent tax increase dedicated solely to funding the school department. When combined with municipal and county tax assessments already adopted by local leaders, Brunswick property owners can expect an overall tax hike of 5.2 percent on their annual bills.

The outcome follows months of careful deliberation in which the school board worked to refine Superintendent Phil Potenziano's initial budget proposal. Board members ultimately trimmed nearly $2 million from the spending plan, making cuts to supplies, professional services, facilities maintenance, and various projects. Savings on health and liability insurance came in higher than anticipated, helping to soften the impact on taxpayers. Additionally, the board directed more than $100,000 in state aid toward reducing the local tax burden.

To balance the reduced budget, the district will eliminate eight positions across the school system. The cuts include two administrative assistant roles, one custodian position, three English for Speakers of Other Languages instructors, one high school teaching position, and a single technology support staff member.

In a separate ballot question, Brunswick voters also approved a $116,000 bond measure for Region 10 Technical High School, which serves students from several Midcoast communities. The funds will go toward safety improvements at the school's Brunswick campus. The referendum received broad support, passing 7,014 to 581, though final vote totals from all participating towns had not yet been tallied Tuesday evening.