Portland Teachers Union Reverses Course, Now Urging Voters to Support Proposed School Budget

The Portland Teachers Union has reversed course and is now urging voters to support the city’s proposed school budget when they go to the polls next week.

This comes after district leaders vowed to add back five educational technician positions next year, as well as make an effort to reduce administrative costs.

Late last month, the union made history by coming out in opposition to the school budget for the first time in the city’s history.

The Portland City Council had unanimously approved sending the $179.3 million school budget to the ballot for ratification just several days prior.

[RELATED: Portland Teachers Union Urges Voters to Reject Proposed School Budget]

As reported by the Portland Press Herald, the union argued at the time that the proposed budget favors administrative positions over those which are based in schools.

Although there was originally talk of cutting 20 positions from the budget, several were restored before the proposal was finalized.

Although a half-time guidance counselor and a half-time Latin teacher were added back to the budget, six educational technician positions were still cut in the final draft. Reductions were also left in place for the district’s central and school offices.

Many of the remaining cuts are to positions which are currently vacant.

[RELATED: Portland Residents to Vote on $179M School Budget Carrying Over 5% Property Tax Hike]

At the meeting where councilors approved sending the budget to the ballot, Superintendent Ryan Scallon said the district struggled with making difficult tradeoffs and that “the challenge of this budget is one of managing both fiscal stewardship and experiences and outcomes of our students.”

Union president Dowdy, however, has argued that the budget does not reflect the needs of students and educators are “unsure if Portland voters are aware of this.”

A flier stating the union’s position reads: “Who loses from the misplaced priorities of this budget? Students!”

Statements were shared Tuesday, however, by both the union and the school district explaining what has changed.

“Recent constructive dialogue with district leaders and the subsequent commitments secured have led us to this change in position,” the union said. “We appreciate that the district listened to educators and that its own review produced changes that put resources where students need them.”

The school district expressed that it was grateful for the union’s support of the budget and appreciates its recommendation that voters approve it at the polls next week.

At no time in the last 15 years have Portland residents rejected the proposed school budget. Last year, 67 percent of the 9 percent of Portland voters who turned out to the polls expressed support for the budget.

As proposed, the school budget would carry a 5.68 percent school-side property tax increase, equating to a roughly $200 annual hike on a median-priced $566,600 home.

The vote on the school budget is scheduled for June 9, 2026, the same day as the primary elections for several key positions, including Maine’s governorship, as well as for seats in the United States Congress.