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Exeter board places $28.6 million operating budget, including pilot free-meal program, on March ballot
Summary
The Exeter School District read a $28,628,762 operating budget and voted to place it on the March 10 ballot. The budget includes a $428,355 appropriation to cover student meals for a pilot year; residents raised concerns about taxpayer cost and possible federal-funding impacts.
The Exeter School District presented a proposed operating budget of $28,628,762 for fiscal year 2026–27 and voted during its Feb. 3 deliberative session to place the article on the March 10 ballot.
Board Chair Heather Eichmeier, introducing the operating budget, said the district sought a “fiscally responsible budget that also met the needs of our student population” and noted many increases are fixed costs such as health insurance, benefits and required special-education services. Eichmeier also defended adding $428,355 to the appropriation to cover student meals, saying the board wants students to “come to school fed, ready to learn.”
Residents questio…
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