Weston board approves 3.91% increase for 2027 operating budget

The Weston School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the fiscal year 2027 operating budget of $63,490,638, a 3.91% increase from fiscal year 2026.

Board member Deborah opened the discussion by summarizing the budget process, noting the superintendent presented the proposed budget Jan. 5 and the board held seven additional meetings, workshops and public forums. She said the two major cost drivers were contractual salary increases and rising health insurance costs, which administrators reported had risen from a projected 12.5% to about 15%.

"Let's not and don't mess with excellence," Deborah said in closing the discussion, arguing the board should avoid cuts that would reduce programs or services.

The chair reported specific line-item changes in her summary: a $2,391,949 increase over last year overall, with $1,257,019 attributed to higher health benefits and $1,432,666 to salary contractual increases. The chair also said the remaining roughly 20% of the budget largely remained flat or included modest reductions in some special services; utilities were unchanged compared with prior years.

Superintendent Forte, speaking after the vote, thanked cabinet members, principals and staff for an exhaustive and collaborative budget process and said the approved budget "is a reflection of the values and the continued excellence that we strive for in Weston." She credited staff members including Phil and Jody for data and document support during the process.

The board recorded no roll-call vote counts in the transcript; the chair announced the operating budget was "approved unanimously." The approved amount will proceed according to the district’s standard follow-up and publication practices.

What happens next: administration will proceed with scheduled public notices and next steps tied to the district’s budget calendar.