← Gorham Guardian · All findings
Severity: high · Category: staffing · Last updated: Feb 27, 2026 · Dollar amount: −$110K
Special Education transportation driver wages drop from $159,580 to $49,500 in FY27 — the largest single percentage personnel cut in the budget. Never asked, never answered.
Full Financial Report: Special Education transportation driver wages cut from $159,580 (FY26) to $49,500 (FY27) — a reduction of $110,080 (69%). This is the largest percentage personnel cost reduction in the entire FY27 budget.
Q&A Q18 (originally Q14) addressed SpEd transportation but only regarding a $100,000 mini-bus request for 3-4 year olds — confirmed as NOT included in the FY27 budget. The 69% driver wage cut received no explanation in any public document.
−$110,080 in driver wages unexplained; no service change disclosed
Document: FY27 Budget Brochure + FY27 Budget Book
Reference: Brochure: SpEd Transportation · Budget Book p.77 — Special Education Summary (CLICK HERE for SpEd financials)
Q&A: School Committee Q&A Document (gorhamschools.org) — Q18 (was Q14 in the February Q&A; addresses mini-bus only — driver wage cut not addressed)
Asked: Q18 (originally Q14): Is the $100,000 mini-bus purchase for a specific bus outfitted to transport 3-4-year-olds?
District answer: The district confirmed: 'This was a request made by Transportation to add a mini-bus to the fleet. This request did NOT make it into the FY 27 Superintendent's proposed budget.' The question touched SpEd transportation but did not address the 69% driver wage cut.
Analyst note: Q18 (originally Q14) confirmed the mini-bus was cut from the budget — but the separate question of why SpEd driver wages dropped from $159,580 to $49,500 (−69%) was never asked or answered. The two are completely separate line items. The driver wage cut remains entirely unexplained in any public document.