Kensington School District advances FY27 budget, cites rising health, special‑education and facilities costs

The Kensington School District board voted to send its proposed fiscal year 2027 operating appropriation to the deliberative session and ultimately to the March ballot, after staff outlined budget drivers that combined to raise the operating total about 4.28% from last year.

Principal Becky Ruhl told the public the district’s FY27 proposed operating budget is $4,692,791.69, an increase of $192,493.43 from FY26. She said the largest single drivers are increases in health and dental insurance and retirement contributions, followed by maintenance needs — notably HVAC controls and a long‑deferred boiler replacement — and higher contracted special‑education services.

“Special education services are not optional, and we are legally required to provide them,” Ruhl said, explaining why special‑education contracted services and behavioral supports (including a board‑certified behavior analyst) figure into the increase. Ruhl also listed smaller cost increases for a first‑year student bus contract, outside auditing, food service, device replacement and a new reading and writing program.

Molly (staff) clarified that the operating figure shown in the presentation excludes some grant appropriations that must appear on the district warrant; she said the ballot appropriation will therefore show a larger number ($4,849,153) because grants are now appropriated at the district level. “Appropriation equals revenue, so there’s no impact on taxation,” Molly said, describing the presentation difference between operating and ballot totals.

Board members and staff emphasized that state adequacy funding falls short of per‑student costs; Ruhl cited recent state developments and a July 2025 New Hampshire Supreme Court ruling that described the state base adequacy level as constitutionally inadequate. Ruhl said local property taxes continue to make up the shortfall, and that about 83% of special‑education costs are locally borne.

The board also discussed enrollment‑driven staffing changes: anticipating one kindergarten classroom next year, the district plans to remove a classroom teaching position and reduce some specialist time (PE, art, music) to match projected enrollment, Ruhl said.

What’s next: the appropriation as drafted will be presented at the deliberative session (staff noted the deliberative is scheduled for February 3 at 6 p.m.) and then appears on the March 10 ballot. Voters will see the operating warrant article and separate warrant articles proposinga range of trust‑fund allocations.