School committee reviews FY27 level‑service budget draft showing 5.2% increase

The Milton School Committee’s finance subcommittee presented an initial draft of the fiscal‑year 2027 level‑service budget at the Nov. 19 meeting, projecting a 5.2% increase over the FY26 final budget.

Finance presenters (thanked in the meeting as Katie) showed the FY26 final budget as $72,873,000 and described salary increases (steps and lane changes) as the largest driver because roughly 82% of the budget is compensation. The presentation noted an out‑of‑district special‑education tuition increase of 3.04% set by the state operational services division and a contractual increase in transportation costs (same level of service assumed). The presenter summarized: “That increase at this point in time is a 5.2% increase.”

The subcommittee outlined offsetting measures and internal reallocations intended to keep next year’s request within level‑service: re‑prioritizing vacancies, making selective hires (for example, an assistant director of student services was noted as necessary), and depositing modest amounts into revolving accounts over three years to stabilize future budgets. Committee members and the superintendent discussed the need to tell a clear story to the community about tradeoffs (which vacancies to restore versus which to delay) and pledged open town‑level budget conversations in January.

Presenters said the district has also received a one‑time infusion of roughly $9.5 million that must be managed carefully; the committee framed replenishing revolving accounts incrementally and staying disciplined across a three‑year horizon. The meeting did not finalize the FY27 budget; members agreed to further internal deliberations and community engagement sessions before decisions are made.

The transcript shows no formal vote on FY27 figures at the Nov. 19 meeting; the budget draft will be revisited at future finance and public sessions ahead of the town’s warrant process.