Kensington School Board presents $4.85 million FY27 budget, emphasizes state funding shortfall
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Summary
The Kensington School Board recommended a $4,849,153 operating budget for FY27, citing rising health and retirement costs and special-education needs; the proposed budget and several trust-fund warrant articles will go to the March ballot after this deliberative session.
Kensington — The Kensington School Board presented a proposed FY27 operating budget of $4,849,153 and recommended voters approve it at the annual ballot. Moderator Harold Bragg said the default budget would be $4,717,233 if the article fails.
Board chair Stephanie Schmidt framed the budget discussion around two systemic pressures: rising health-care and retirement costs and a state funding model the board says underfunds local needs. "The state of New Hampshire only contributes around $4,800 per pupil," Schmidt said, adding the shortfall means local property taxes must make up the difference.
Principal Becky Vrul explained the budget drivers in a video shown to the meeting: total increases of $192,493 (about 4.28%), led by health and dental insurance increases and higher special-education contracted services. She listed specific line changes that appear in the proposed budget: roughly $37,000 in maintenance and facilities for HVAC and boiler planning, about $6,900 for the first student bus contract, approximately $8,400 for outside auditing, $3,700 for food service increases, $12,000 for technology replacements, $5,900 for the SAU assessment, and $11,000 for a new reading-and-writing curriculum required by recent state legislation.
The principal noted staffing reductions in the proposed plan — removing one classroom teacher and reducing some specialist time — are aligned with current and projected enrollment. "All of these increases and decreases together total 192,493 or 4.28%," she said.
The board emphasized that some costs are legally required, such as special-education services, and that local taxpayers currently shoulder about 83% of special-education costs, according to the presentation. Superintendent and SAU staff will present more detailed budget figures at public hearings and board meetings before the March vote.
What happens next: The proposed operating budget (Article 1) will appear on the March ballot. Voters also considered related warrant articles on expendable trust funds and a collective bargaining agreement during the deliberative session.