Noble School District budget approved, board member reelected
Voters in York County’s three‑town Maine School Administrative District 60 (MSAD 60) narrowly approved a $52.3 million school budget on Tuesday, delivering a decisive but close outcome that will fund the district’s programs for the coming fiscal year. The final tally showed 2,345 “yes” votes against 2,078 “no” votes, a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent.
The three communities that make up the district—North Berwick, Berwick and Lebanon—each contributed to the vote. In North Berwick, 791 residents supported the measure while 599 opposed it. Berwick’s precincts were more evenly split, with 981 votes in favor and 804 against. Lebanon, however, recorded a majority against the proposal, with 573 votes for and 675 against.
The election night count was not completed until the following evening. A delay of nearly a full day occurred in processing Berwick’s ballots, postponing the release of the final results until Wednesday night.
The approved budget reflects a $2.4 million increase over the previous year and will require an 8.61 percent property‑tax increase for district residents. The spending plan devotes roughly 81 percent of the total to employee salaries, continues the district’s pre‑kindergarten program, and funds the development of new curricula.
In addition to the operating budget, voters authorized $1.2 million from the state’s School Revolving Renovation fund. District officials said the grant will be used to improve air quality at Noble Intermediate School.
The ballot also included a race for the district’s school board. In Berwick, incumbent Margaret Wheeler was re‑elected to a three‑year term, receiving 820 votes. Challenger Mathew Roy gathered 748 votes, while 286 voters left the school‑board contest blank and 18 submitted write‑in names.
Outside the polls, Wheeler reflected on the outcome. “I want to see us have the ability to have meaningful conversations and do the work the board is supposed to be doing,” she said. She added that, after two decades of elected service, she had never felt less certain about how the electorate might shift.
The narrow passage of the budget underscores both the community’s commitment to its schools and the challenges of securing broad fiscal support in a year marked by a modest tax hike. As the district moves forward with staffing, program expansion and facility upgrades, the close vote serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between educational investment and taxpayer expectations in MSAD 60.
