The proposed Biddeford school budget is up $2.5 million, or 5.39%, over this year’s budget. The budget comes to a total of $49.8 million and was approved by the School Committee on April 30.

If the school budget is approved by voters June 10, the tax rate would increase by 81 cents, bringing the total to $15.03. This means that a median home assessed at $382,350 would have an annual property tax of $5,747, up 5.7% from this year.

Cost drivers for the school budget include staff salaries, health insurance and an updated math and reading curriculum.

The district anticipates adding several new positions in the fiscal year beginning in July, including a new English language learning teacher, as well as a full-time science, technology, engineering and math position and a full-time special education secretary.

Creating the FY26 budget this spring presented “unprecedented challenges,” Superintendent Jeremy Ray said.

The primary challenge is the significant increase in Biddeford’s valuation, which resulted in decreased funding from the state. With Biddeford property values deemed higher, the state believes the city is in need of less funding, and taxpayers are expected to pay more in taxes to fund the Biddeford school system. However, many families are unable to do so, Ray said.

“This substantial shift in funding responsibility presents unprecedented challenges for our budget planning process as we work to maintain educational quality while being mindful of taxpayer impact,” Ray said.

In recent months, Ray and Biddeford Mayor Martin Grohman have been working to pass two bills in the Maine Legislature that would help alleviate some of the burden on taxpayers when it comes to school funding.

Another concern regarding the FY26 budget is the reduction of a school nurse at the John F. Kennedy school. At a School Committee meeting on April 30, residents and School Committee members shared concerns about reducing the number of nurses in the district.

“We’ve talked about nursing care many times as a board,” School Committee member Meagan Desjardins said. “We’re concerned about whether we have enough nursing staff in our district.”

Ray said that with the increase of students experiencing homelessness and other financial pressures, there has been an uptick in requirements for nursing services in Biddeford schools.

“A lot of the time, we are the frontline health care for a lot of families,” Ray said.

However, budget constraints do not allow for additional nurses in FY26.

“At the end of the day, we’re in a tough budget situation,” Ray said. “We’re trying to prioritize all of the needs of the district. There are a lot of concerns out there.”

Biddeford voters will be able to decide whether or not to approve the FY26 school budget during the June 10 referendum.