Triton Regional School Committee approves $54.5 million FY26 budget; Rowley signals likely override

The Triton Regional School Committee approved a $54,503,289 fiscal year 2026 budget on March 12, 2025, while members and residents warned the package will force at least two member towns to seek overrides. The budget vote came after an extended presentation by district staff and more than an hour of discussion about town assessments, program cuts and possible revenue offsets.

The committee voted to set total operating and capital spending at $54,233,695 and $269,594, respectively, producing combined assessments to the three member towns of $43,610,103; the district expects $10,803,185 to be covered by other state and local revenues. Superintendent and finance staff told the committee the budget as presented assumed Salisbury would support the figure as written, while Newbury and Rowley are likely to require voter-approved overrides at town meeting.

Why this matters: The budget contains several program additions (special-education staffing and in-district supports) and cost drivers (a $1 million-plus increase in health insurance). Committee members stressed that if two towns fail to approve the assessments, the district will need to return to the committee for additional cuts before re-submitting a revised budget to member towns.

During public comment, Bernie Cullan of Rowley said the town''s Finance Committee estimated a $1.5 million override would be required and warned of the local tax impact. "The Finance Committee's estimate ... is a $1,500,000 override," Cullan said, adding that the projected increases would be unaffordable for many homeowners in Rowley.

District officials walked the committee through line-item changes in the final document. Highlights and clarifications included:

- Budget totals and assessments: Total FY26 request of $54,503,289; operating $54,233,695; capital/debt $269,594; combined town assessments $43,610,103; other revenues $10,803,185. - Staffing and program changes: The budget funds a half-time speech and language therapy assistant ($49,400) and funds to convert an RBT to a full BCBA for the REACH program; it also shifts an existing Salisbury teacher to Newbury to reduce class size. District staff identified four position reductions tied to retirements and reorganization (two special-education teachers, the district wellness coordinator, and one unfilled high-school position). - Cost drivers and offsets: The superintendent said more than $1 million of the budget increase is driven by health-insurance cost increases. The administration expects roughly $300,000 in health-care savings from bargaining, an estimated $200,000 from the circuit-breaker (transportation) reimbursement, and other small revenue adjustments to narrow a remaining $350,000 gap; staff emphasized those figures remain contingent on final state and town actions. - Town process and timing: Newbury and Rowley hold town meetings before the state''s May election; Salisbury holds its town meeting after the election. If the budget is not approved in two towns and is returned to the committee, member towns have up to 45 days to reconvene and vote again; if they do not, an automatic approval provision can apply.

Committee members described lengthy intergovernmental conversations over months and urged continued communication with town officials. The committee read a letter from Rowley''s select board and finance committee (submitted the previous morning) that called the Triton assessment for Rowley "unsustainable" and said the town would likely consider an override. The letter also warned that Rowley''s willingness to support the larger Triton building project would change unless the district adopted a different budget policy.

Votes at a glance

- FY26 final budget (motion text read into the record): Approved. Motion to approve the fiscal year 2026 final budget of $54,503,289 (operating $54,233,695; capital/debt $269,594) and combined assessments of $43,610,103, with $10,803,185 funded by other revenues. (Voice vote; formal roll-call not recorded in transcript.)

- School-year calendar 2025''26 (Draft V2, Wednesday professional-development model): Approved. (Voice vote.)

- Appointment of interim director of finance and operations, David Verdelino: Announced; no formal roll-call vote recorded (interim appointment effective the following Monday was stated by the superintendent).

- Hiring of Dr. Richard Poor as director of finance and operations (superintendent authorized to execute contract): Approved. (Motion seconded and approved by voice vote.)

- Establishment and membership of the Triton school building committee (MSBA entry): Approved. Voice vote noted one abstention and one recorded opposing vote (names not recorded in the action line); the committee accepted an 18-member slate drawn from school staff, town representatives, parents and students.

- Policy revisions (security-camera policy EC/EC-AF; policy section E edits): Approved (second/final readings; voice votes).

- Whittier Regional Committee appointments (Salisbury seat: Ronald Fitzgerald; Rowley seat: Cesar Paglia): Approved (voice votes).

What the votes do not resolve: Multiple committee members and town officials stressed the budget''s final fiscal effect depends on each town''s town-meeting actions and on additional state revenue items that could arrive before final certification. The superintendent and finance staff repeatedly said the district must be ready to identify additional reductions quickly if the budget is returned after town votes.

Context and next steps: With the budget approved by the committee, towns will consider assessments at their respective town meetings in April and May. If two towns reject the budget, the school committee will reconvene to choose further reductions and re-submit a revised request to the member towns. The district also will continue negotiations with bargaining units for health-care savings and monitor final Chapter 70 and circuit-breaker calculations.

The meeting also covered non-budget formal actions (calendar approval, policy second readings, Whittier appointments, and the building-committee slate) that the committee approved during the same session. Several members proposed additional joint meetings with select boards and legislators to explain the district''s fiscal position to residents before town votes.