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Manager urges ‘wait-and-see’ on state aid as council presses for school funding plan
Summary
City Manager presented options for FY26 school funding and urged waiting for final state budget; councilors asked for a face-to-face meeting with the superintendent and flagged potential $2.4 million charter school impact and a $4 million shortfall scenario.
City Manager Golden told the Lowell City Council on Thursday that the administration prepared multiple options to address an FY26 school funding shortfall and recommended waiting for the state budget before finalizing city action.
“Let's take a deep breath, find out what could possibly happen,” City Manager Golden said, outlining a “wait and see” approach while the state conference committee considers supplemental funding. Golden told the council he had discussed options with the superintendent and said the city remains confident it will meet net school spending requirements; “This past year, our net school spending number was over $5,000,000,” he said.
Councilors pressed for faster, concrete commitments. A motion by Councilor Noon (5.2) asking the city manager to meet with appropriate entities to revisit the maintenance‑of‑effort memorandum of understanding with the school department passed; Councilor Noon asked the manager to include the new facilities department in those talks. CFO Connor Baldwin told the council the maintenance‑of‑effort is codified in a memorandum of understanding executed in February 2007 and noted major allowable cost drivers, including Medicare tax, pension assessments, retiree health insurance, workers’ compensation and utilities.
Several councilors warned that even if one‑time funds arrive from the state, underlying sustainability must be addressed. Councilor Robinson and others raised the question whether a one‑time city infusion would avoid similar shortfalls in subsequent years and urged the manager and superintendent to agree on a medium‑term plan. Councilor Blancha and others urged keeping the property‑tax increase modest and said they supported exploring supplemental state dollars before committing more city resources.
The council also discussed charter school impacts and enrollment timing; CFO Baldwin and members noted October 1 enrollment reporting rules affect where tuition dollars are counted for a school year. Manager Golden said he planned further meetings with the superintendent and expected to update the council after the state budget process and the school committee’s upcoming meeting.
