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Auburn leaders set 'baseline' FY26 budget guidance, cite risks from state aid and rising costs
Summary
City and school officials agreed to a baseline, no-new-services budget for FY26 and outlined high risks including possible state revenue-share reductions, new finance systems rollout and contract settlements that will raise personnel costs.
Auburn city and school leaders on Monday said they will build a baseline fiscal 2026 budget that avoids new services while preparing for a year of uncertain state and federal revenue and rising costs.
City Manager Phil Crowell and Superintendent Sue Doris told a joint workshop of the City Council and School Committee that their shared management goal is a “current services” budget—no expanded programs—because of uncertainty in state revenue sharing, grant reporting requirements and inflation-driven costs.
The managers described three risk tiers. High risks include possible cuts or shortfalls in state revenue sharing (the city and schools are pushing to preserve a 55% state share for education), pressure on municipal reimbursements such as homestead and general assistance, and audit- and grant-related reporting that has increased staff time. Crowell said the city is watching American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) deadlines tied to projects that must be spent by the end of 2026.
Medium risks include labor contracts. Crowell said the city will…
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