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Portsmouth committee reviews first draft of FY2027 budget; transportation and health care remain biggest unknowns
Summary
School leaders presented a first draft of the FY2027 operating budget Thursday that would raise expenditures by about 3% and require a 2.7% town appropriation increase (about $1,073,021). Officials flagged transportation and health‑care premiums as the primary outstanding cost uncertainties.
Portsmouth — The Portsmouth School Committee heard the first draft of the fiscal year 2027 operating budget at its Feb. 10 meeting, a proposal staff described as focused on student learning, safe and effective schools, and fiscal responsibility.
The draft would increase district expenditures by roughly 3% and, based on the presenters’ assumptions, requires an additional town appropriation of $1,073,021 (a 2.7% increase) to balance revenues and expenses. Finance staff said revenue assumptions include a modest uptick in state aid based on the governor’s recommendation and a projected 7.4% increase in out‑of‑district tuition revenue driven by Little Compton enrollments and continued demand for career‑and‑technical education (CTE).
On the expenditure side, compensation increases account for roughly $724,000 of the change — described by staff as 53% of the dollar increase but only a 2.8% rise as a percent of total compensation — and the draft reflects a net reduction of 3.0 certified full‑time equivalents and 0.2 non‑certified FTEs. Health‑care costs were budgeted on an assumed 6% premium increase; the final trust rate is expected in March. Electricity and textbook/subscription costs also contributed to proposed increases.
Student transportation emerged as the most significant near‑term pressure. Staff said the current busing contract expires at the end of the school year; the district received a single bid that included a 15% first‑year rate increase. Negotiations with the prospective transportation provider are underway, and the administration said it hopes to present a transportation bid award recommendation at the committee’s next meeting and to reflect any negotiated savings in the second draft of the budget, scheduled for Feb. 24.
Superintendent Dr. Vivereras and finance staff emphasized that some numbers remain estimates. Health‑care rate finalization in March and any successful negotiation on transportation pricing will materially affect the second draft. No formal vote was taken on the draft budget; the committee will consider subsequent drafts and present the approved budget to the Town Council on April 28, with the town’s public hearing scheduled June 10 and final adoption set for June 22.
Clarifying details: the draft includes an elimination of an unfilled school safety officer position at the high school and a reclassification that replaces a part‑time technology post with a full‑time technology specialist. Staff said the district budgeted a 15% bus rate increase in the first draft but expects to seek reductions through negotiation.
