Nashoba district presents FY26 operating budget; officials cite special-education and insurance cost drivers

The Nashoba Regional School District held its FY26 budget hearing in March 2025, during which district finance staff and the superintendent outlined an operating budget just over $70 million and said it would increase about 5.25% over FY25, largely because of higher special-education costs and a near-20% rise in health insurance premiums.

District presenters reviewed budget development steps taken since last summer, described cuts and offsets the administration built into the proposal, and fielded brief public comment before the committee closed the hearing. No final committee vote on the FY26 operating budget was taken at the hearing; the committee plans to vote next week and then present the budget at each town’s meeting.

Why it matters: the proposed increase affects the three Nashoba towns’ assessments and could change staffing and program offerings in the coming school year. Superintendent Downing and finance staff described a set of reductions they say were necessary to limit the assessment increase while preserving core services.

District staff said the roughly $3.5…