Northbridge committee outlines FY26 budget gap, considers $4.95 million override and fee increases

Northbridge School Committee Superintendent Amy delivered a detailed presentation of the proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget and the district's options to close a lingering funding gap during the committee meeting in March 2025.

The proposed level-services FY26 operating budget is $33,839,000, producing a projected deficit of about $692,000 after the district's plan to move eighth grade into the high school. Superintendent Amy said the district expects $16,200,000 in Chapter 70 state aid and a proposed town contribution increase of $391,000, for a combined appropriation rise of $533,903. She described three primary ways to close the gap: increase the town appropriation, use revolving (one-time) funds, or adopt budget reductions.

Why it matters: the district has relied on one-time sources (ESSER grants and revolving-account balances) in recent years to maintain programs. With ESSER funding ending and revolver balances limited, administrators warned that continuing to use one-time funds would deepen future-year deficits. Superintendent Amy said DESE's required net school spending will rise next year by roughly $1 million while the district's typical appropriation has increased by about 2% annually.

Most important facts and choices

- Budget totals and shortfall: The initial FY26 level-services budget totaled $33,839,000 (a 4.65% increase over FY25). After proposed changes including the eighth-grade move, the FY26 deficit is about $692,000. The district earlier calculated a larger initial deficit (about $1.1 million) before the enrollment and placement changes described in the presentation.

- Revenue assumptions: Superintendent Amy said expected Chapter 70 aid is $16,200,000; grant revenue is assumed near $1,100,000; the district expects to use about $4,600,000 from revolving accounts in FY26 while maintaining a $1,000,000 emergency balance.

- Override option: The committee proposed a $4,950,000 override to be phased in over five years. The presentation showed that phasing the override would reduce FY26 pressure and align projected appropriation increases with level-services costs in subsequent years; the first-year phase is shown in the packet as roughly in the low millions (presentation slides gave year-by-year phasing but did not list a single-year lump sum to be collected immediately).

- Program and staffing proposals: To reduce recurring costs, the administration proposed: moving eighth grade to the high school (estimated $324,000 savings); reorganizing or combining some positions (for example, combining the dean and vocational coordinator duties and adding a full-time athletic trainer); adding positions prioritized for high-need areas (an additional BCBA and special-education staff); and cuts that could include eliminating one regular school bus and the PK midday bus run (estimated $101,000) and reducing some extracurricular positions if needed.

- Cost drivers called out: Salaries and benefits are the largest expense (about 69.4% of the budget). Out-of-district special-education tuition and associated transportation were the second-largest single cost (about 14.9%). The transportation contract alone rose by over $200,000 in the latest bid cycle; the presentation showed large percent increases since FY19 for bus/van runs and some out-of-district placements.

Discussion and concerns

Committee members and the superintendent emphasized that some proposed additions (notably another board-certified behavior analyst) are intended to reduce far larger out-of-district placement costs over time. One committee member said adding a BCBA is "financially responsible," noting that supporting substantially separate programs locally can avoid expensive placements.

Student representative Caleb and others raised concerns about proposed user-fee increases. Caleb read student feedback that parents may struggle with fee increases and asked whether better enforcement of existing fees (for example, parking-pass compliance) could reduce the need to raise rates. Superintendent Amy and staff said the committee considered modest increases for athletics, transportation, parking and preschool tuition and provided revenue estimates for each option if participation remains steady.

Public comment

Resident Steve Falconer urged the district to press the state for structural solutions rather than rely on local fees and overrides, saying, "the solution comes from the state," and warned that fees can create participation barriers for activities that promote attendance and student engagement.

Decisions, directions and next steps

- Public hearing: The superintendent and committee confirmed a public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for March 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium to collect community feedback.

- Committee direction: The committee asked staff to continue refining the FY26 numbers, to model the override phase-in impacts, and to prepare a list of specific reductions that would close the remaining gap if voters do not approve an override.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (minutes and warrants): The committee approved the consent agenda by roll call (tally recorded as yes votes; motion passed). The packet recorded a roll-call vote; the motion carried.

- Executive session: The committee voted to enter executive session under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 30A, section 21(a) to discuss strategy for nonunion negotiations and collective bargaining with the Northbridge Teachers Association; the roll-call motion passed and the committee did not return to open session.

Context and background

Superintendent Amy noted the district has used ESSER and other one-time funds in recent years to preserve staffing and programs; those sources have largely expired or are constrained. The presentation compared Northbridge's per-pupil spending with neighboring towns and showed that Northbridge spends only about 1% over required net school spending while carrying a higher concentration of students with high needs (special education, English learners, and low-income students).

Ending note

The committee is continuing negotiations on collective-bargaining matters and will refine the FY26 packet before the public hearing. Administrators said they will present refined budget options and a clear list of potential program and staffing reductions if the override is not approved.