Chelsea Public Schools presents FY26 budget plan, details $3.4M shortfall and $2.1M city contribution

Chelsea Public Schools leaders presented a draft Fiscal Year 2026 budget on Feb. 20, telling the school committee that the district began the process with a projected $3.4 million shortfall and has worked with the city and school leaders to reduce the gap.

The superintendent (identified in the transcript as “Doctor Abeyta”) and Chief Financial Officer Billie Jo Turner walked the committee through enrollment, revenue and expense drivers. Turner said the district’s calculation showed it would need about $11.5 million just to maintain current programming because of salary steps, health insurance and other contract increases. She reported an initial $3.4 million shortfall before city and district actions.

The superintendent told the committee the city committed $2.1 million above the required minimum contribution to offset the deficit; after that contribution and internal adjustments the district reported a remaining gap of roughly $1.2 million that it expected to close through a mix of targeted cuts and adjustments.

Catherine Anderson, a middle school special-education teacher and president of…