Winchester Public Schools presents FY26 preliminary 'level services' budget, seeks community input ahead of Jan. 30 vote

Winchester School Committee members heard a presentation and public-comment session on the district’s preliminary FY26 level-services budget at a public hearing on Jan. 23, 2025. Superintendent Dr. Hackett and Director of Finance and Operations Andrew Marron said the level-services draft carries current services forward, adds contractual step/column increases and known contract increases, and does not include new positions.

The administration presented a preliminary level-services increase of 5.84% over FY25, using the FY25 town-meeting approved operating base of roughly $66.1 million as the starting point. The largest drivers are personnel-related costs (about $3.5 million in the roll-up) and other expenses (about $287,000). Marron and Dr. Hackett emphasized that personnel accounts make up roughly 80–85% of the district budget and that most near-term budget pressure comes from salary/step/column growth and special-education costs.

Why it matters: the committee must vote a level-services number to send to the town manager prior to Jan. 30; the town finance committee and town manager then work from that number as the municipal budget process proceeds toward a…