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Select Board adopts FY27 budget; schools request additional $225,000 pending FinCom review
Summary
Select Board adopted the FY27 budget as presented but heard requests from Nantucket Public Schools for $75,000 to cover teacher column changes and from the Nantucket Community School for $150,000 to maintain programs; finance staff warned adding the full request could push budgets over levy limits, and the board asked for further FinCom review.
The Select Board voted unanimously Jan. 14 to adopt the town’s proposed FY27 budget as presented while continuing discussions on several supplemental school funding requests.
Superintendent Beth Helt and Martin Engleb, the public‑schools chief financial officer, requested $75,000 to cover unanticipated teacher column changes under collective bargaining deadlines that fall before the budget cycle. Alicia, executive director of the Nantucket Community School, requested $150,000 to preserve affordable programming (adult education, camp subsidies, pool operations and early‑childhood readiness programs) and to cover rising personnel and operating costs.
Finance Director (Unidentified Speaker 26, Brian Turbit referenced) warned that while the town traditionally absorbs post‑presentation school requests by adjusting vacancies and town‑side budgets, the town’s remaining levy capacity was small (the presentation noted approximately $136,000 of unused levy capacity at the time of the presentation) and adding $225,000 now would risk an unbalanced budget pending final state aid figures. Board members directed staff to continue conversation with FinCom and the schools to identify options and timing; the board adopted the FY27 budget to allow finance‑committee review and later adjustments if necessary.
The board closed the public hearing and adopted the budget by motion and voice vote; members signaled openness to revisit specific school requests as the state aid picture and FinCom deliberations clarify available capacity.
