It doesn't quite feel like spring yet, but there are still some signs of the season around town. Public Works will be street sweeping around town, beach season starts in May, budget reviews are underway, and more. With Earth Day coming up, there are also upcoming opportunities for you to get involved in some outdoor cleanup and spend time outside. Read on below for additional important announcements and updates.

Beach Reminders: Restricted areas on town beaches are in effect, which means there are sections of the beach where dogs aren't allowed or need to be leashed (read the signs). Also, beach passes will be available for purchase for seasonal parking beginning on May 1 at Town Hall. Learn more

Closed Monday for Patriot's Day

Scarborough Town Hall will be closed Monday, April 21 in observance of Patriots Day. Trash pickup will remain on schedule.

Finance Committee Begins FY2026 Budget Reviews

Since the Town and School were first presented in late March, the Town Council has begun to review it in more detail and invites the public to do the same. The review process provides opportunities to learn more from individual departments and make any adjustments. The first Finance Committee meeting to hear department presentations was yesterday for four hours, along with a second round today. See the meetings to view each department budget explained in detail.

Quick Recap

The Town of Scarborough has a budget of nearly $90 million. The main areas of focus evident in this year’s budget continue to be the high priority on delivering quality essential services and education with minimal new investments and positions. It is 5.27% higher than last year, which equates to approximately a 3.48% property tax rate increase. See Budget in Brief for full summary

Capital Budget Breakdown

The FY26 budget prioritizes that essential services continue to be seamlessly met. Nearly two-thirds of the proposed capital plan is intended to maintain existing facilities and infrastructure or replace aging vehicles and equipment. New investments (32%) intend to continue toward service improvements and future planning.

Maintaining Level Services

Services that benefit the community and are essential to the quality of Scarborough include maintaining our roads and associated infrastructure, sidewalks, and public buildings. The Public Works department follows a thorough vehicle replacement schedule and anticipates when Town vehicles and equipment are reaching the end of their optimal usage window. A few vehicles/equipment that are requested to be replaced include a pickup truck ($65k), bucket truck ($225k), and plow truck ($235k). Each makes accommodations for cost-saving measures: reusing the sander unit on the plow truck, downsizing the replacement bucket truck from the current 25-year old one, and replacing the pickup before it becomes too costly to maintain. 

Making Service Improvements

In addition to investing largely in maintaining critical infrastructure, the Town is still investing in added improvements. The Spurwink Road project is one area that the Town plans to continue upgrading; Phase II is requested in the FY26 budget for a total of $600k. The request makes up the remainder from $1.4 million that is already allocated for the project from a previous budget.

Future Planning & Design

A smaller percentage of the capital budget (9%) is allocated for future planning and design. This includes design work largely for traffic-related projects, which residents identified as a major category of Town services that should receive the most emphasis over the next two years. The Town is also responding to the community’s call for trail/sidewalk network improvements. A $75k funding request for a Trails and Sidewalk Master Plan would build on the information gathered in a recent Transportation Assessment and create a clear path forward for future sidewalk and trail connections.

Budget Roundtable Discussions

The public is invited and encouraged to participate in budget discussions to give input. The Town Council and Board of Education are offering Budget Roundtable discussions for continued dialogue. Upcoming dates: April 15 (7:00pm) and April 29 (5:00pm).

School Building Committee Narrows to Two Options

The School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC) is currently refining two potential plans in preparation for the next round of public input, one of which is a Three-Primary “Neighborhood” School option and the other a K-2 Consolidated School option. 

Option 1: “Neighborhood” School

Designed to maintain Scarborough’s three-primary-school model. On Monday, April 7, the committee voted in support of a plan to renovate and expand Pleasant Hill and Blue Point Primary Schools. Eight Corners Primary School would be replaced by a new school built to meet the needs of the growing West Scarborough area. Multiple sites are currently under consideration, all within 2.5 to 3.5 miles of the current Eight Corners School. 

Eight Corners, originally built in 1959, serves the area of Scarborough experiencing the most growth. There is a pressing need for increased capacity at the school to serve the community in this geographic area. This fact, in combination with favorable site options and a significant need for facilities upgrades, drove the committee’s selection of Eight Corners as the school to be replaced.

Under this option, a new build to replace Eight Corners Primary School would allow the design of a new future-ready school with expansion possibilities in Scarborough’s fastest growing area. The plan would also preserve the neighborhood character of Scarborough’s two most walkable, community-centered primary schools, Blue Point and Pleasant Hill.  

Neighborhood School Draft Site Plans

Option 2: K-2 Consolidated School

The K-2 Consolidated Community School option is also under development. Multiple sites are under consideration, centrally located in the town, each about one mile from the municipal campus. 

Both plans also include updates and renovation to Scarborough Middle School and Wentworth School, in anticipation of the already identified growing population of students and providing for replacement of the middle school portables.

Of note, Scarborough Downs is not under consideration as a location for either school option. 

Consolidated School Draft Site Plans

Next Steps

• April 30: Community forum: Q&A about options; public feedback

• Late April-Early May: Community survey: public feedback on two options

• June: SBAC recommends preferred option

There will be another survey for resident feedback coming in the next few weeks. The School Building Advisory Committee is seeking as many responses as possible to ensure a wide array of community voices are heard. Be on the lookout for this survey in early May.

Parks & Grounds Crew Gets Ready for Spring

The Parks & Grounds crew—a division of our Community Services department—is responsible for the maintenance of many parks and fields in Scarborough. This includes daily priorities like mowing, cleaning bathrooms, and trash removal, as well as seasonal preparations like maintaining the skate ponds and snow removal in the winter and maintaining, painting and laying out athletic fields for Scarborough Schools in spring. Here are some projects and tasks they have been working on these past couple of months:

Softball Field Upgrades: Replaced all the old fencing with new black chain-link fence around the School campus softball field, and put new black chain link on the backstop. Reconfigured the dugouts and had new red metal roofs installed.

Basketball Court Rehab: Fixed up the basketball backboards & rims on Quentin drive. Sanded and repainted backboards and rims and installed new nets.

New Scoreboard: Installed a new scoreboard sign with new logo for varsity softball.

If you see our Parks & Grounds crew at work at the beach facilities, parks, or municipal/school campus, be sure to say hello and thank them for keeping Scarborough’s recreational areas safe and clean for us to enjoy.

Buy Tickets: Spring Fling Family Formal Dance

Saturday, May 3

6:00-8:00pm, Wentworth Cafeteria

Buy ticket; $8 per person

Families come in all shapes and sizes... Moms, dads, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, friends, next door neighbors... Bring the people who are most important to you to our 4th Annual Spring Fling Family Formal Dance!

Professional photography offered on site, as well as a selfie station for those fun and silly poses. Music provided by local radio DJs Joe Lerman and Rob Steele. Light refreshments and snacks provided, plus we're giving away fun raffle prizes from local businesses. We're able to keep the ticket cost down thanks to sponsor Nonesuch River Brewing—sign up today!

Out Now: Summer Program Brochure

April 16 Workshop: Transportation & Vision Zero

The Scarborough Transportation Committee has been working to incorporate Vision Zero principles into their work, part of a plan adopted by the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries resulting from crashes on our roadways by 2045. The April 16th Council workshop (5:30pm, Council Chambers) will educate the community on their work to date, presented with GPCOG. This effort is anticipated to lead to a future request from the Transportation Committee for Town Council to endorse a Vision Zero Pledge and vote on a Council Resolution to adopt Vision Zero tools and strategies into our roadways. 

About Vision Zero

Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and sever injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. How is Scarborough specifically impacted:

• About 42,000 people die each year in the US in crashes
• About 160 people die each year in Maine in crashes
• About 2 people die each year in Scarborough in crashes

Since GPCOG adopted a Vision Zero Plan for Greater Portland (which includes Scarborough), additional federal funding for Maine’s roadways has opened up and Scarborough has been successful receiving 2 projects under the Safe Streets 4 All program. 

Councilor Resignation & June Election

On April 3rd we sent a special announcement email to inform of the resignation of Councilor Don Cushing in the April 2, 2025 Town Council meeting. His resignation will take effect on Thursday, May 8 and creates a vacancy on the Town Council to be filled through November 2026. Nomination papers were accepted through the end of day yesterday, April 14.

Candidates will be voted on in a Special Municipal Election on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, which coincides with the School Budget Validation Referendum and the Board of Education Election.

Request Your Absentee Ballot Online

The Town Clerk's office is now accepting absentee ballot requests for the June 10th election. Make the request in person, via phone at 730-4020, or through this online form.

Police Now Using In-Car Cameras

The Scarborough Police Department implemented body worn cameras in mid-March and most recently installed cruiser cameras, both of which were approved by voters in the referendum last fall. This technology will better protect and serve our community, as the cameras will maximize public safety, increase transparency, and improve situational awareness. Just last week, Sergeant Andrew Flynn had success with the cruiser cameras while on routine patrol:

"I was on patrol when dispatch advised all officers that Buxton PD had attempted to stop a white Camaro that had fled from them at a high rate of speed. They were unable to obtain the registration for the vehicle, so we had no other information other than it did not have a front license plate on it. 

Upon approaching the intersection of Route 114 and Beech Ridge Road, I located a white Camaro with no front license plate. It immediately fled from me when I started to pursue it; however, due to the extremely dangerous operation and speeds of the fleeing vehicle, I elected to discontinue the pursuit for the safety of all involved. Additionally, I suspected that the cruiser camera had captured the license plate of the vehicle to identify the offender. I reviewed footage and saw that the license plate had been captured.

After further investigation, a suspect was identified. He was contacted and once he learned that the entire incident was captured on camera, he confessed to the offenses. Within an hour and a half of the initial incident, he had turned himself in at the Police Department. He was charged with a felony offense of eluding an officer and a misdemeanor offense of driving to endanger. Buxton Police Department also charged him with several offenses related to their incident. Had it not been for the cruiser camera, the suspect would likely not have been identified and held accountable."

Public Works: Paving List

Public Works has announced their proposed roads to be paved in Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). These can also be viewed on our Scarborough Transportation Improvements Map, which indicates the road projects currently happening and expected in the next couple of years.

New May Date! Household Hazardous Waste Day

Scarborough Public Works offers collaborative, multi-town opportunities to safely dispose of your household hazardous waste materials. This is a free service to residents of Scarborough, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Biddeford for all three events (proof of residency is required).

The dates for the 2025 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days are:

• Saturday, May 17 (8am-Noon), Scarborough (20 Washington Ave) **New date
• Saturday, July 19 (8am-Noon), Saco (15 Philips Spring Road)
• Saturday, September 13 (8am-Noon), Biddeford (371 Hill Street)

Disposal is free for residents of Scarborough, Saco, and Biddeford at all three events. Please see the flyer for a list of accepted materials and paints.

News Update: Leader is Now Digital Only

The Scarborough Leader local newspaper that has historically been delivered free to residential addresses is now digital only. The paper was a main source of town news for many residents. In the absence of the paper edition, we encourage you to continue accessing Town news through this newsletter, our website, and the online articles provided free of charge. See the online Leader articles or E-paper.

Tonight: Reimagining Route 1 Meeting

Tuesday, April 15, 5:30-7:30pm

Scarborough Town Hall, 259 Us Route One

Wednesday, April 30, 12:00-1:30pm

Virtual/Zoom

Register

What’s your vision for Route 1? The Greater Portland Council of Governments’ Reimagining Route 1 project is moving forward, and they're holding three public meetings in April to facilitate community input about the project. The goals of the meetings are to introduce the project and some of the team, as well as gather feedback and input from the people who live, work, and drive along Route 1. Registration is free and pizza will be provided at no cost to attendees of the in-person meetings. Whether you’re a regular Route 1 user, just curious about what this project is all about or both, GPCOG wants to hear from you!

Council Corner: Developing Budgets in a Time of Uncertainty

By Jon Anderson, Scarborough Town Council

Last week, I checked my 401K and immediately wished I hadn’t. I usually do the grocery shopping in my household. My grocery cart is getting smaller (I’m trying to be better about not grabbing things not on the list!), but the cost at the register doesn't seem to be going down. We have opted not to go anywhere for April vacation and hunker down at home to save some money. I watch the news and hear about potential federal cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and loss of Federal Grants for existing programs that may impact our community. I share all this because like many of you, I’m worried about my personal finances. In my household, it’s a time to make choices and show restraint. I bring this mindset as we tackle the 2026 budget, because I know many people are feeling the same financial pressures I am.  

I really appreciate the modest budget proposal that the Town Manager and Superintendent put forward for FY2026. It showed the same restraint that I am doing at home. Overall the proposal would increase taxes by 3.4%. It’s the lowest starting point in the 5 years I’ve been on the Council. As we work through the process, we will likely end up at a different number before our second reading on May 7th. On the Town side, the increase is predominantly to honor contractual agreements with our union employees in Fire, Police, Dispatch and Public Works - some of our hardest working people in Town.

There are also increases in costs for contracts, and maintenance following our routine replacement schedule to provide level services. These costs are going up to do the same amount of work. There are a few new positions requested by the Town that are being considered. They are a long time coming that have been put off year after year. On the School side, the majority of the increase is due to the teachers union contract under active negotiations and legally mandated positions to provide special services to students. Similar to last year, my main focus is to take care of the people who serve you and the children of Scarborough each and every day The people who are facing the same household pressures we all are facing. Approximately 66% of the Town budget is for personnel expenses, compared to the School at 81%. 

While I know many are feeling worried about their personal finances, I hope our community believes with a high degree of certainty that the Town will be consistent in delivering a modest tax increase typically close to the inflation rate. If you have feedback on the budget, you can engage with the Town and School in many ways. Come to a Budget Roundtable at Town Hall tonight, April 15th at 7:00pm or April 29th at 5:00pm. These roundtables are an informal way to share your thoughts with the Council and School Board. Come to a public hearing and for 3 minutes share your feedback - April 16th at 7:00pm at Town Council, April 17th at 7:00pm with the school board. If these dates and times don’t work for you, you can always email us your thoughts - towncouncil@scarboroughmaine.org and/or boe@scarboroughschools.org.  

While there is financial uncertainty all around us, I hope our community will take solace knowing that your elected officials, Town, and School staff are committed to our tradition of providing stability with modest adjustments in our finances to continue to provide you with valuable services.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Scarborough Town Council.

Scarborough Town Council

April Sither (Chair) • Jonathan Anderson (Vice Chair) • Don Cushing • Scott Doherty • Bill Donovan • Cory Fellows • Karin Shupe

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

School Board Hosted Successful Senior Citizen Dinner

On April 8, the Wentworth Cafeteria was transformed into a hub of joy, laughter, and community connection for nearly 80 Scarborough senior citizens as the Scarborough School Board proudly hosted the 2nd Annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Dinner. The event was a celebration of gratitude, togetherness, and intergenerational appreciation—and there's no shortage of people to thank for making this night possible.

From the moment our honored guests arrived, they were met with smiles and open arms. Volunteers from Scarborough High School warmly greeted seniors, checked them in, served meals, handed out goodie bags, and sparked delightful conversations.

The culinary experience for the evening was nothing short of spectacular, thanks to the incredible efforts of Nutrition Director Peter Esposito and his talented team, including interns. Entertainment was lively and engaging throughout the evening. The Middle School Theater team gave guests a sneak peek of their upcoming musical Matilda Jr., and the Wentworth Dance Club students choreographed and performed two show-stopping routines. The High School Robotics Team set up an interactive display featuring five student-built robots that attendees could test-drive themselves! Artwork and hand-written cards from primary school students adorned the room, adding a heartfelt, personal touch to the atmosphere.

The event was made possible through the hard work of many behind the scenes: Board members and their families, the district technology team, janitorial staff, Community Services, District administrators and SPS staff. A special shoutout goes to our generous community partners for donating raffle prizes: Ace Hardware, Troop 1448 Girl Scouts, Aroma Joe’s, and Evergreen Credit Union. Most importantly, thank you to our senior citizens who attended and made the evening truly meaningful.

This dinner was born out of a desire to reconnect — after hearing community feedback that seniors felt disconnected from the schools, the board and superintendent committed to creating opportunities for engagement, appreciation, and belonging. What began as a pilot in 2023 has grown into a treasured tradition that will only continue to blossom. The evening served as a beautiful reminder of the importance of building bridges across generations and creating a cohesive and connected community. Here’s to many more years of appreciation, celebration, and shared joy. See you next year!

April 26: Marsh Clean-up Event

Spring Cleanup at Scarborough Marsh

Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center

Saturday, April 26, 9:00am-12:00pm

Join us for this spring Earth Day tradition. We will gather at the Nature Center for a cleanup of the marsh and beaches. There will be refreshments and displays and information on how you can be a better steward to this beautiful part of the earth. This event is also sponsored by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Scarborough Land Trust, and the Scarborough Community. We will also be collecting food for Project GRACE. Groups are welcome. Registration is helpful but not required.

Programs at Scarborough Public Library

April Vacation Week

Recycling Fun & Waste Sorting Relay

With ecomaine

Tuesday, April 22, 10:00am-11:00am

Register (Ages 6+)

Join us for an exciting and interactive recycling event! In this fun-filled session, we’ll explore why recycling matters, what happens to our trash, and how we can help take care of the planet. After the presentation, it's time for action with our Waste Sorting Relay Race! Kids will team up and race against the clock to sort different items into the correct bins—learning and having fun at the same time.

A Seal's Journey

With Marine Mammals of Maine

Friday, April 25, 11:00am-12:30pm

Register (All ages)

Get closer to understanding marine life and its connection to environmental conservation. Join Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) as they take you through a seal’s journey from stranding to release, and all of the obstacles in between. Start with seal basics, such as whether it's normal for them to be out of the water and why you might see a baby on its own, then dive into when and why seals need our help. You will learn about MMoME, what they do, animals they care for, and how you can help.  

A World of Wonder

Virtual Reality for Hospice Support

Tuesday, April 29, 12:00pm-2:00pm

Register

From revisiting past experiences and neighborhoods or going on that bucket list adventure virtually, we use VR experiences to spark joy and connection. Come experience our Virtual Reality for yourself and learn how it's enhancing our patients' quality of life.

Scarborough in the Era of Roadside Cabins

Tuesday, April 29, 6:00-7:00pm

Register

Presented by Linda Snow McLoon. This program looks at the large number of the businesses that peppered Rte. 1 in Scarborough at a time when Americans celebrated their newfound freedom to travel in their own automobiles. Upon arrival, they usually stayed for their entire vacation at one of the summer accommodations at Prouts Neck or Pine Point. After cars became the vehicle of choice in the 1920s, a whole new type of lodging popped up—the roadside cabin.

Called Back: Poetry Reading in Queer Conversation with Emily Dickinson

Wednesday, April 30, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Register

Rosa Lane will be reading from her latest poetry collection Called Back, a title memorializing the last two words Dickinson wrote. Called Back may be considered a "docudrama" of sorts in poetic form and is based on most recent research by scholars bringing the LGBTQ significance of Dickinson to light. Rosa Lane, poet and architect, was raised in coastal Maine as the daughter of a lobsterman. She is the author of four poetry collections.