If Liberty left Regional School Unit 3 and joined Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit, Alna, Westport Island and SVRSU's other members would be chipping in 5% less than they do now, and Liberty would pay about 25% less for education than it pays now, SVRSU Superintendent of Schools Howard Tuttle told Alna selectmen and other residents March 5. He said Liberty has formed a withdrawal committee, and SVRSU residents could vote as early as November on whether to accept Liberty; this does not impact the 2026-27 budget.

Liberty has expressed "strong interest" in joining SVRSU, Tuttle said. "It seems like a very good fit for everybody."

Liberty came up as Tuttle was presenting a "very preliminary" budget draft, up 6.6% or $1,914,627 from 2025-26, to $30,555,354. Under the cost-sharing formula, Alna's tab would be up $114,222, or 8.7%, to $1,423,858; Westport Island's, up $108,119, or 10.2%, to $1,161,384. The numbers could improve in April when more is known, including how much insurance is going up, he said.

SVRSU's board is set to approve a budget offer April 9 to send to the 6:30 p.m. May 20 district budget meeting at Chelsea Elementary School, where residents will consider it piece by piece. The budget that results goes to referendum June 9 at the polls.

"And so we have a whole month to keep working on this budget. There's still a lot of information that we're waiting on," including insurance, Tuttle said. The draft figures in a 15% hike in insurance, and the increase could instead be 9%, which would pare almost $300,000 from the budget offer, he said. 

The draft proposes nothing new for 2026-27, he said. It is "still just about trying to get by" and maintain, he said. For four or five years, "It's been pretty challenging to bring a budget forward that is affordable."

Also March 5, Ed Pentaleri of Alna's roads committee said plans for 2026 include a maintenance shim for Dock Road; a complete repaving of Dock Road Extension, "the worst segment of paved road in the entire town"; and addressing "two particularly bad segments" on Golden Ridge Road, including a water issue he said causes a glacier. The board went on to support adding "Beaver Deceiver" systems to the multi-year plan. As discussed, the town would start with one, from town funds or a possible grant, and see how that one goes.

Alna has announced town reports will be available at the town office starting March 13. To request delivery, contact the town office by 4 p.m. March 12, according to a town email. Copies of the report will be also be available at the Alna Fire Station on Election Day, Friday, March 20 and at the open portion of town meeting, Saturday, March 21.