Pittsfield School Committee accepts FY26 budget overview; administrators cite $1.3M gap, 19.5 FTE reductions by attrition

The Pittsfield School Committee on March 26 accepted the district’s FY26 budget overview and the accompanying line‑item budget after a presentation from district administrators.

Assistant Superintendent Ms. Benke presented the budget numbers the administration had shared with the committee. The FY26 package relies on a city contribution of $18,000,000 and a Chapter 70 estimate of $68,450,361, for a combined anticipated city appropriation of $86,450,361. The administration identified budget drivers—contractual increases and new obligations—totaling about $5,060,000 and said the gap between those drivers and the proposed appropriation amounts to roughly $1,300,000.

Major drivers noted in the presentation included an $820,000 increase for out‑of‑district special‑education tuition; $650,000 added for special‑education transportation and $120,000 for homeless transportation; $120,000 in higher utility distribution costs ($80,000 electricity, $40,000 gas); and $50,000 for software subscription increases. The administration also proposed restoring smaller lines such as legal services ($10,000) and recruitment costs ($10,000).

To address the shortfall, principals and school councils were asked to identify reductions. Administrators presented a package that reduces about 19.5 full‑time equivalent positions districtwide; the administration said these reductions will be handled through attrition, retirements and reallocations and that it does not anticipate layoffs. The committee was told principals will outline the impact of those reductions at a budget workshop scheduled at Reed Middle School.

The committee approved the budget overview and line‑item budget by voice vote. Members said they appreciated that proposed reductions were achieved without planned layoffs and asked administrators to provide clear information to the public at the upcoming budget workshop.

Ending: The presentation directs staff to continue planning and public outreach at the budget workshop; specifics about individual school impacts will be discussed at that session.