Burlington school board approves $134.8 million FY26 budget, cites estimated 4% tax-rate drop

The Burlington School Board voted to approve a $134,779,831 annual budget for fiscal year 2026 and the district's recommended ballot language during its Jan. 21 meeting, adopting a proposal district leaders said could result in an estimated 4% decrease in local property taxes.

Superintendent Flanagan presented the final budget recommendation, saying the proposal "maintains current levels of service and aligns staffing to enrollment, drives funds towards students who need it most with the updated RISE allocations, and reduces central office budgets for a second year." Flanagan added, "This proposal will result now in an estimated 4% tax decrease." The board then moved to a vote; the motion carried with board members verbally indicating assent and no recorded opposition or abstentions.

Why it matters: The vote settles the district's FY26 spending plan and the ballot language voters will see, while spotlighting two larger forces shaping the budget: (1) changes to Vermont's education funding formula that increased Burlington's long-term weighted average daily membership (LTWADM), and (2) the winding down of one-time federal ESSER funds that have supported prior budgets.

Board members and staff…