Tewksbury School Department requests 3.44% budget increase; capital outlay cut to $250,000

The Tewksbury School Committee on Feb. 5 heard a public presentation on the proposed fiscal 2026 school budget, which school department staff said requests a 3.44% increase over the current year and adjusts the district’s priorities to cover salary and operating needs.

School department staff member Dave Libby presented the overview, saying the request stems from step and longevity increases and other salary pressures. “Our salary is typically 70% of our budget,” Libby said, summarizing the department’s approach to building the request. He added the department planned to convert contracted special-education aides and some therapy services into salaried positions where possible to gain more in‑district capacity and reduce contracted costs.

The proposed budget would shift money away from capital outlay to cover salary and operating accounts. Libby said capital outlay for FY26 was being reduced by about 68% to $250,000 from what the department typically budgets (about $789,000 in prior years), and that many building projects would instead need to be funded through town meeting…