Salem School Committee adopts $78.17 million FY2026 budget after personnel reductions

The Salem School Committee voted April 28 to adopt a $78,173,061 budget for fiscal year 2026, approving separate personnel and non-personnel totals by roll call after several weeks of community input and internal adjustments.

The committee approved the personnel budget of $60,462,704.36 and the non-personnel budget of $18,615,959 in separate roll-call votes. The final package carries a 4.8% overall appropriation increase compared with the current year and reflects recommended reductions that the district said total roughly $3.5 million in personnel cuts and related offsets. The superintendent told the committee that “new money didn't just drop out of the sky” when explaining why restorations required offsetting eliminations.

Why it matters: School leaders said the adjustments respond to constrained state funding under Chapter 70 and rising local and contracted costs. Committee members and district staff warned that similar or deeper shortfalls are likely in FY27, and that the budget will go next to the City Council for final approval on May 27.

Highlights and staff adjustments The administration…