Portland Council approves FY2027 school budget, defers city budget to June

The Portland City Council approved the fiscal year 2027 school budget and several consent items, including liquor licenses and infrastructure agreements. The council deferred the city budget and related orders to a June 1 meeting for further public comment and final votes. Public comment focused on safety concerns regarding long-term scaffolding on the Trelawney Building and hazardous traffic patterns near the Hershey Street sewer project.

Key points

• Council unanimously approved the FY2027 Portland Public Schools budget, which includes a 2.6% local increase offset by a $4.1 million loss in state funding.
• The council approved cooperative agreements with the Maine Department of Transportation for sidewalk and pedestrian improvements on Brighton Avenue and Forest Avenue.
• Three liquor license applications were approved on the consent calendar for Keg and Kraken, The Velvet Dog, and Cocktail Mary.
• Public commenters raised urgent safety concerns about the Trelawney Building scaffolding, citing blocked sidewalks, lead dust exposure, and crime, and requested the city enforce permits and remove the structure.
• Residents of Chenery Street reported dangerous traffic conditions caused by the Hershey Street sewer project, urging the city to close Ocean Avenue to through traffic and revise the traffic control plan.
• The council postponed the city budget and several related financial orders to June 1 to allow for additional public comment and amendment discussions.

Next steps

• The council will hold a special meeting on June 1, 2026, to finalize the city budget and vote on deferred financial orders.
• The city will proceed with design and bidding for Brighton Avenue and Forest Avenue sidewalk improvements, with construction targeted for 2027.
• The council will revisit the Doherty Field Lighting amendment on June 1 to correct a procedural error from a previous vote.

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