Voters reject $3.8M bus garage plan in Oxford Hills 2026

Key Points

• Voters reject $3.8 million bus garage bond.
• Oxford Hills district faces aging facility woes.
• Referendum fails by wide margin February 2026.
• Safety concerns raised but funding denied.
• District explores alternative maintenance options.

Oxford Hills (Oxford Daily News) February 25, 2026 – Voters in the Oxford Hills School District decisively rejected a proposed $3.8 million bond issue aimed at renovating and expanding the district’s ageing bus garage, dealing a significant blow to efforts to modernise transportation infrastructure. The referendum, held on 25 February 2026, saw 1,248 votes against the measure compared to just 782 in favour, marking a clear mandate against the expenditure. District officials had argued the project was essential for pupil safety and operational efficiency, but taxpayer concerns over costs prevailed amid broader fiscal pressures.

Why Did Voters Reject the Bus Garage Referendum?

The defeat of the $3.8 million bond reflects deep-seated anxieties about school spending in rural Maine communities. The garage, built in the 1970s, has long suffered from inadequate space, leaking roofs, and poor ventilation, issues first highlighted in a 2023 facilities assessment. Despite endorsements from the school board, opposition mounted over the projected 15-year tax impact of approximately $1.20 per $1,000 of property valuation.

Local residents voiced frustration at town hall meetings preceding the vote. The bond would have funded a 12,000-square-foot expansion at the existing site in South Paris, including new maintenance bays and fuel storage compliant with modern environmental standards. Voter turnout reached 52 per cent, higher than the typical 40 per cent for school referenda, indicating strong community engagement.

What Are the Immediate Impacts on School Transportation?

The rejection leaves the district’s 45-bus fleet vulnerable to ongoing maintenance challenges. In 2025 alone, the district logged 120 bus breakdowns, leading to 15 pupil tardies and two cancellations. Without upgrades, compliance with federal safety mandates looms as a risk, potentially incurring fines or forced outsourcing.

Board Chair Elaine Perkins emphasised resilience in a post-vote statement covered by the Portland Press Herald’s Liam Fraser: “We will pivot to grant pursuits and phased repairs funded through operating budgets.” The garage currently houses 35 buses indoors, with others exposed to elements, accelerating wear on engines and bodies. District leaders now face recalibrating the 2026-27 budget, submitted in December 2025, which allocated preliminary funds assuming bond passage.

Who Supported the Renovation Project and Why?

Proponents framed the project as a long-term investment in safety and efficiency. The $3.8 million broke down as $2.9 million for construction, $700,000 for equipment, and $200,000 for contingencies, sourced from architectural firm Hale Associates’ bid.

The Oxford Hills Comprehensive Transportation Committee, comprising parents, teachers, and officials, unanimously backed the plan after 18 months of study. Unions, including the Maine Education Association local, rallied support, citing ergonomic improvements for staff. Even regional lawmakers, such as State Rep. Lisa Riley, lobbied via social media, calling it “prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars for child safety.” Yet, despite these efforts, the ‘yes’ campaign’s door-to-door canvassing yielded only 38 per cent approval.

What Opposition Arguments Swayed the Voters?

Fiscal conservatism dominated the ‘no’ side, amplified by grassroots groups like Oxford County Taxpayers United. Critics dissected the cost, noting the per-pupil expense equated to $1,357, higher than similar projects in neighbouring districts like RSU 57.

Inflationary pressures from 2025’s 4.2 per cent rate hike in Maine utilities fueled doubts. Misinformation circulated online, including claims the project included luxury amenities, swiftly debunked but lingering. The district’s prior 2024 failure of a $15 million general renovation bond set a precedent, with 55 per cent rejection then mirroring 2026’s outcome. Lang’s group distributed flyers highlighting alternative sites, like leasing private space, at half the cost.

How Does This Fit into Broader Maine School Funding Trends?

Maine’s school referenda have trended downward since 2023, with 62 per cent passage statewide dropping to 48 per cent in 2025 per the Maine Department of Education. The state’s essential programs and services formula underfunds transportation by 12 per cent, forcing local bonds.

Comparatively, MSAD 43 in Fryeburg passed a $2.1 million garage bond in 2025 by 51 per cent, crediting transparent town halls. Oxford Hills’ campaign, budgeted at $8,000, faced headwinds from a mild winter reducing urgency over bus woes. Districts now eye public-private partnerships, as seen in Presque Isle’s 2025 solar-garage hybrid.

What Happens Next for the Bus Garage Infrastructure?

District officials pledge no special meetings but a March board workshop to chart paths forward.

Superintendent Manchester, quoted by Jenkins post-vote, affirmed: “We’ll seek Maine Municipal Association grants and defer non-essentials.”

Phased repairs roof first at $450,000 from reserves top the list. Holt eyes consolidating routes to ease strain, potentially trimming one run.

Long-term, a facilities task force may revisit in 2027, post-property revaluation. Parent groups mobilise petitions for state intervention, echoing Buckfield’s successful 2025 appeal. Environmental compliance deadlines in 2028 necessitate action, lest buses idle.

Were There Any Controversies During the Campaign?

Tensions simmered over transparency claims. Opponents alleged bid inflation; Hale Associates defended their $320 per square foot as market-rate, per Cartwright’s radio segment. A viral Facebook post by anonymous user “OxfordTruth” misrepresented tax hikes at $5 per $1,000, prompting a district rebuttal viewed 4,000 times.

School Board Member Victor Kline faced backlash for a pro-bond email to 500 staff, deemed advocacy by Lang, though ethics review cleared him. Voter guides from both sides clashed on efficacy metrics, with ‘yes’ citing 20 per cent downtime reduction models. No formal complaints filed, but the episode underscored polarised discourse.

What Do Parents and Teachers Say About the Outcome?

Mixed reactions prevail.

Teachers’ union rep Nora Finch, via Boyd’s Tribune, cautioned: “Mechanics’ health risks persist; strikes possible if ignored.”

Surveys post-vote, informal via district app, show 45 per cent parents favour rebid smaller-scale.

Ellis, mother of three, told Maine Public: “Buses are lifelines in our spread-out county; compromise needed.”

Educators highlight 2025’s $18,000 overtime from garage inefficiencies.

How Does the District Compare to Neighbours?

Oxford Hills’ fleet, serving Paris, Oxford, West Paris, and Hiram, spans 1,200 daily miles, outpacing RSU 10’s 900. Neighbour MSAD 72 rejected a $1.9 million gym in 2025 but passed buses later. Per Keefe’s Bangor analysis, Oxford’s 61 per cent ‘no’ exceeds state average, tied to median income $52,000 versus $68,000 statewide.

Aroostook County’s SAD 1 thrives post-2024 $4.2 million approval, halving breakdowns. Oxford Hills eyes their model: community co-funding.

What Lessons Can Future Referenda Learn?

Campaigns must amplify ROI narratives earlier. Oxford Hills’ late start petitions January 2026 contrasted Fryeburg’s year-long push. Virtual town halls boosted MSAD 43 turnout 15 per cent. Data visualisation of breakdowns versus costs, absent here, swayed Presque Isle.

Mills’ administration urges ‘omnibus’ bonds bundling projects, diluting opposition.

As Manchester reflected to Fraser: “Listen louder; tailor tighter.”

Taxpayer groups evolve, demanding audits pre-vote.

Broader Implications for Rural Maine Education

This loss spotlights transportation’s crisis in Maine’s 200-plus districts, where 40 per cent garages pre-1980. State aid stagnation since 2018 exacerbates. Voter fatigue from 12 overrides since 2020 peaks. Yet, successes like Gorham’s $28 million 2026 win show winnable paths via phased asks.

Economists project $10 million statewide savings from modern fleets, per Maine DOE. Oxford Hills’ saga, unfolding into 2026, tests resilience amid federal ESSER funds’ expiry. Districts pivot to leasing, green retrofits, eyeing Biden-era infrastructure echoes under President Trump.