Andrea, a Berry City middle school music teacher, told the Barre Unified Union School District #97 board that a proposed $3,750 cut to her program would prevent the department from buying reeds and replacing or repairing instruments, and would reduce students’ access to concerts and festival travel.

“Music classes also teach and reinforce perseverance, commitment, dedication, and collaboration,” Andrea said during public comment, adding that ensembles provide performance and civic visibility for students. Garrett White, a Berry City resident and substitute teacher, and several other residents and parents echoed that position, describing music and arts as key opportunities for students who are not involved in sports.

The board spent more than an hour discussing the FY26 budget outline, surpluses revealed by the recent audit, and staffing and program priorities. Board members and administrators described a roughly $700,000–$800,000 surplus from fiscal year 2024, a capital-reserve account, and a growing cafeteria fund. The board’s discussion included a proposal from board member Terry Roehl to replace the district’s 5.14% proposed budget increase with a 4% increase and to apply $700,000 already planned for tax stabilization plus the FY24 surplus (roughly $797,890.88 as stated in the meeting) against FY26 revenues to reduce the local tax burden.

No formal vote on the FY26 budget was held at the meeting. Board members emphasized competing priorities: several said they wanted to lower the budget increase to respond to community affordability concerns, while others warned that using one-time reserves to reduce recurring operating costs would put the district at risk in future years. Lisa (district staff member) explained that some of the surplus reflected unfilled positions (which she estimated at about $400,000) and changes in special education reimbursements; she also noted restrictions on some reserve accounts (for example, the cafeteria fund is restricted to food-service uses and related capital purchases).

Board members and residents raised additional details about the budget: Garrett noted large state-driven cost increases such as an 11.9% health insurance premium increase and other unfunded mandates; Nancy (board member) asked for a clear five-year capital plan to show how capital-reserve money would be spent; several members requested a clearer line-item accounting to identify where small supply requests (like the $3,750 for music) might be restored without raising the overall increase. Some trustees argued the district has historically ended years with large fund balances and that the board should consider a formal policy on an appropriate reserve percentage and how surplus funds are returned to taxpayers.

The meeting closed the budget discussion by asking administration to prepare written scenarios: (1) what a 4% budget would look like with the proposed use of FY24 surplus and the planned $700,000 tax-stabilization revenue; (2) a clearer inventory and five-year capital plan for planned capital spending; and (3) itemized detail on unfilled positions and proposed cuts, so the board can review concrete trade-offs at the next meeting.

The board did not adopt or pass the FY26 budget at the meeting; a formal vote was not on the agenda for this session.

The district will continue budget work at upcoming meetings; board members asked for the superintendent’s office to return a written budget scenario reflecting the 4% proposal and the revenue offsets discussed so the board can consider whether to move forward with that approach.