Budget Challenges Ahead

Newfound Budget Panel Silent On Next Year’s Spending

BRISTOL — School Administrative Unit 4 got a late start in proposing a budget for the Newfound Area School District in the coming year, having had to first rebuild the financial records lost in last year's cyber attack. Superintendent Paul Hoiriis and Business Administrator Angela Carpenter gave the school board and budget committee a broad outline of what next year’s budget will look like on January 6, just one week before a public hearing is scheduled to take place.

In developing a budget for the 2025-26 academic year, the district is facing a 9.4 percent projected budget increase for health insurance and a 5 percent increase for dental benefits. The district has been unable fill support staff, program specialist, and facilities positions that may require increased wages. Transportation costs are projected to increase by 35 percent, while special education aid is expected to decrease by 32 percent.

Perhaps the biggest challenge in meeting expenses is due to the withdrawal of Bridgewater, Hebron, and Groton, leaving the four remaining towns in the district to carry the costs. Some of that will be made up by a net increase in tuition from those towns for students wishing to continue their education here, as well as Hill students attending Newfound. This year’s tuition budget is $980,000, and it is projected to be $1,722,744 next year.