Methuen council holds first read of FY2026 municipal budget; targeted cuts approved, schools boost aided by state funds

Methuen City Council held the first reading of the city's proposed FY2026 municipal budget on June 23, reviewing department-by-department line items, approving most totals and adopting a handful of targeted cuts and reallocations after extended discussion.

Councilors and municipal officials spent the meeting examining individual personal-services and other-expenses lines for each department, debating new and reclassified positions, and weighing one-time and recurring revenue options for the schools. Council members and the mayor discussed a temporary reallocation of local revenues and the newly announced state circuit-breaker funding for schools; city staff said the additional state reimbursement lets the school department meet its adopted staffing model.

Why it matters: The first read sets the spending plan that the council will refine before a second read and final vote. Several votes recorded during the session will change department budgets as they move to final approval, and councilors pressed for assurances about job descriptions, hiring authority and how one-time sources (including state and grant funds) will be applied.

What the council did and debated

- Schools: City administrators told the council that recently confirmed circuit-breaker funds from the state increase the school department's revenue, allowing the district to meet its staffing model. The council recorded a vote on the Methuen Public Schools subtotal at the first read; the body also discussed a proposal to temporarily reallocate 100% of certain local revenue (meals-tax and billboard receipts) to the general fund for FY2026 so those receipts can be used to help fund schools this year only.

- Mayor's office: Councilors debated a $15,000 cut to the mayor's personal-services line. The motion to reduce $15,000 from the mayor's personal-services line passed by recorded roll call. Members also questioned a title change from "executive assistant to the mayor" to "director of communications and constituent services," and…