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Middlesex holds public hearing on FY2026 budget; schools press for larger raises
Summary
The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the county and school budgets where officials reiterated no proposed tax increases, outlined capital projects and a reassessment timetable, and heard multiple speakers urging larger teacher pay increases than the board’s proposed 3% cost-of-living adjustment.
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 County Administrator, proposed distributing the state bonus as a flat payment rather than strictly by percentage: "The proposal is the comp board positions get the comp board funded amount or 7 50 whichever is greater. Everyone else gets 7 50," Riccardi said, summarizing a plan she and staff modeled as costing a net estimate of about $52,000 after payroll taxes and offsets.
School leaders and parents urged the board to go further on compensation. Tracy Seitz, superintendent of Middlesex County Public Schools, told supervisors the draft budget is "a little bit bare bones for Middlesex County Public Schools," and school board members and speakers said a 3% COLA would leave the division among the lowest-paid east of Interstate 95. Thomas Kennedy, representing Harmony Village and the school board, said a higher raise (5%–7% was discussed publicly) would be necessary to raise the division out of the lowest pay tier.
Public speakers described the effect of staffing shortages in classrooms. Long-term substitute teacher Andy Reid appealed for stronger teacher pay and continuity: "We need a consistent, happy, reasonably happy staff at our school," he said. Multiple school board members and the superintendent said mandated special-education positions were included in the school request and had been prioritized in negotiations with county staff.
Other budget highlights presented by staff included: - County and school capital improvements totaling about $1.6 million combined, with roughly $266,000 proposed for school capital work (including a replacement bus, rooftop units at Middlesex High School and a generator at St. Clair Walker) and about $1.3 million proposed for county capital projects (sheriff vehicle replacements, IT security, courthouse and renovation placeholders). - The first full-year budget incorporation of paid rescue-squad staff after the county absorbed their payroll; emergency services costs were the largest expenditure increase cited. - Airport enterprise fund revenue increases and reduced general-fund transfers, as the airport seeks greater self-sufficiency. - A plan to use about $216,000 of fund balance in the operating budget as presented (staff said that number may be adjusted at the next meeting).
Board members acknowledged the public comments and said they would continue deliberations at an upcoming meeting. Supervisor Reggie Williams said the board hears the concerns and that work is ongoing: "We hear you and hear you loud and clear." The public hearing was followed by routine business; the board then took a procedural motion to adjourn.
The county did not adopt the budget at the hearing. Staff repeatedly noted that the 1.5% bonus authorized by the General Assembly for certain state-funded positions still requires the county to adopt a bonus ordinance before funds would be expended, and some neighboring counties have indicated they may handle that bonus off-budget or as a supplemental appropriation after their budgets are adopted.
What happens next: supervisors said they will continue discussion and may adjust contingency allocations and line items at their next meeting before any final appropriation vote.
