Auburn School Committee Approves FY27 Budget Amid Anticipated Federal Title I Cut

AUBURN — March 18, 2026 — Auburn School Committee approves FY27 budget despite anticipated loss of $159,000 in federal Title I funding. The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to accept a 3.92 percent budget increase over FY26, even as Director of Finance Keller warned that a projected drop in Title I funding from $269,000 to roughly $110,044 threatens five K-5 paraprofessional positions and the district's academic summer school. The cut stems from a statewide 10 percent federal reduction and Auburn's own poverty rate falling from 6.7 percent to a projected 4.8 percent, stripping the district of access to two Title I funding streams. Two positions have been listed at $1 as placeholders pending the official July award. The committee also unanimously approved a $314,000 warrant article for a new generator at Auburn High School — the town's designated emergency evacuation site — and a March 20 makeup day for students and staff following a February school closure. Business Manager Stanek completed her review of Auburn High School student activity accounts, finding $16,532.46 in spreadsheet errors accumulated since 2019 against a true verified bank balance of $106,201.46.