Middlesex holds public hearing on FY2026 budget; schools press for larger raises

The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors on Monday held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2026 county and school budgets, discussing revenues, capital projects and a state-funded 1.5% bonus while members of the public and the Middlesex County Public Schools urged larger raises to keep teachers from leaving.

County staff described the budget as balanced without any proposed increases to real estate or personal property tax rates. "No tax increases are being proposed," said Matt Walker, a county staff member leading the presentation. Walker outlined a plan for a reassessment expected to begin in July 2025 and conclude in December 2026 and said the county has invested roughly $12.5 million of reserves, generating about $600,000 in investment revenue.

The budget presented includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for school and county employees and contains a contingency line of about $88,000 that staff said could be used if the board chose to pay a state-authorized 1.5% bonus to eligible employees. Anne Marie Riccardi, Assistant…