Marlborough council approves FY2026 operating budget after public hearing on school funding and tax impact

The Marlborough City Council on May 19 approved a fiscal year 2026 municipal operating budget of $213,821,841 after a public hearing and a finance committee amendment, with the final vote 8–1.

The approved total reflects adjustments to the mayor's original $215,302,846 proposal, which the city said represented a 9.91% increase over FY2025. The finance committee reduced the mayor's submission by $1,481,005, producing the council's adopted figure and lowering the mayor's projected average single‑family tax increase by about $90.

Why it matters: the mayor and the council identified the biggest drivers of the proposed increase as higher school department funding, stepped-up funding for employee contracts and benefits, and long‑term debt service. Residents who spoke at the hearing focused largely on school funding and the projected tax increase for homeowners.

Scores of residents and educators urged the council to approve the school department portion of the budget. Denise Ryan, a member of the Marlborough School Committee, told the council, “Supporting our schools is supporting the future of Marlborough.” Michelle Bowden Hettinger, a 20‑year School Committee member, urged approval “to maintain the level of services that our students need and deserve.”

Several parents and teachers described growing needs in classrooms. Emily Welton, who said she has taught in Marlborough for more than 15 years, said she currently has no aide in a classroom with many students newly arrived from other countries and added, “The teachers are extremely overwhelmed.” Michael Hennessy, a parent, told the council, “We have to increase taxes to support our kids,” and said per‑pupil spending in Marlborough has fallen below the state average in recent years.

Opponents at the hearing raised concerns about the tax burden on seniors and fixed‑income residents. Paul Ferro, a longtime resident and former councilor, urged the council to send the budget back to the finance committee and “find more cost savings,” arguing that year‑to‑year budget increases should be more moderate.

Council discussion reflected that tension between increasing school funding and limiting tax impacts. Councilor Irish, chair of the finance committee, explained the committee's work reducing the mayor's proposed total and said the adjustments were meant to lower the projected tax impact while preserving core services. After motions and an amendment to restore a small senior‑services line item (approved by the council), the body approved the finance committee's amended budget, 8–1.

Actions taken: the council approved the FY2026 municipal operating budget as amended (Order No. 25‑109439) by an 8–1 vote. The finance committee recommended reducing the mayor's proposal by $1,481,005; the council adopted that recommendation and an additional small amendment reallocating $49,448 tied to senior services.

The council will publish the adopted budget documents and next steps for implementation; the mayor's office and the school department will proceed with department-level planning and contract negotiations tied to the adopted figures.