Somersworth School leaders outline $34.2M FY26 proposal, warn $1M in cuts needed to meet tax-cap

Superintendent John and Business Administrator Katie Krause presented the Somersworth School District’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budgets at a public hearing Feb. 11, outlining a superintendent-recommended budget that would keep current programs but raise spending $1,996,266 and a tax-cap-compliant alternative that trims about $1,035,686 to meet the municipal tax-cap calculation.

Why it matters: The superintendent’s recommended budget would preserve current programs and meet contractual obligations but — as presented — would raise the district portion of the tax rate by about $1.03. Under state tax-cap mechanics explained to the board, the district’s allowable increase is $903,007.44; the superintendent’s proposal sits roughly $1,035,686 above that limit, forcing significant reductions to reach a tax-cap-compliant figure.

Krause, the district’s business administrator, said estimated FY26 revenue totals $10,510,409, up $56,836 year-over-year, and that local property taxes make up 63% of district revenue while state adequacy aid accounts for about 26%. She told the board the superintendent’s recommended total expenditures are $34,228,278, a $1,996,266 increase. “The majority of our estimated revenue comes from our local property taxes making up 63% of the revenue that we receive,” Krause said.

The presenters described two formal budget options: the superintendent’s recommended budget, which would fund contractual step and salary increases (teacher step-and-track 4% costing $609,783; SACO clerical/paraprofessional increases 5% costing $266,002), and a tax-cap budget designed to meet the city’s tax-cap calculation (a roughly 3% increase). Districtwide health insurance costs and collective bargaining items are primary cost drivers: the district’s health insurance rate rose 14.4% (a benefits increase across staff of $469,445), and total plan spend for covered members increased 25.3%.

Krause walked the board through three tiers of proposed reductions the administration compiled to reconcile the superintendent’s budget with the tax cap. Tier 1 (non-personnel trims) would delay planned SAU roof replacement and trim building-level increases; Tier 2 (modest program/personnel impacts) includes reductions such as Maplewood building aide and athletics adjustments (about $62,000); Tier 3 (deeper personnel cuts totaling roughly $883,000) lists possible reductions the administration said are “last resort,” including a Maplewood teaching position, a middle-school special education case manager, a possible high-school library media specialist, reductions to central-office administrative assistant/reception staffing, and potential reductions to the district social worker (the latter contingent on a proposed city partnership).

Board members and members of the public emphasized the educational tradeoffs. Board member Bridget Jamieson warned that cutting CTC (Career and Technical Center) programming “is really important to our children here in the district” and said losing teaching positions would be a serious hit to student opportunities. Public commenter Richard Brooks questioned the clarity of notice for the hearing but did not address budget specifics.

Decisions and next steps: The board held the required public hearing and scheduled the first reading of the budget that night; the board’s second reading and vote on the proposed budget is set for Feb. 18. By charter the school budget must be submitted to the city manager by March 1 to begin the Somersworth City Council process. Administrators told the board they will continue looking for savings (for example, bringing speech/language services in‑district rather than contracting) and pursuing collaborative arrangements with the city to lower the school portion of the tax impact.

Clarifying numbers and examples from the presentation: the district’s estimated FY26 revenue $10,510,409 (+$56,836); superintendent’s recommended expenditures $34,228,278 (+$1,996,266); estimated net tax-rate impact of superintendent’s budget roughly $1.03; tax-cap allowable increase $903,007.44; tax-cap-compliant expenditure increase $960,580 (net estimated tax impact $0.47); Tier 3 personnel reductions total roughly $883,000 of the $1,035,686 gap the administration listed.

The hearing closed with no immediate amendments; the board will consider the budget for formal action on Feb. 18 and will submit the approved budget to the city manager by the charter deadline. "We are super sensitive to property tax issues and increases and a burden that falls extensively on the local community," Superintendent John said during the presentation.