Town leaders warn of overrides and urge action on state funding after Wachusett budget presentation
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Summary
Town finance chairs from Holden, Paxton, Rutland and others told the Business & Finance Subcommittee the FY27 draft will likely force overrides in some towns and urged coordinated advocacy to the state's funding-formula task force; administrators were asked to prepare a specific "Plan B" of cuts if overrides fail.
Town officials from the five Wachusett member communities told the district's Business & Finance Subcommittee that the FY27 draft budget's town-assessment impacts could force overrides in multiple towns and urged the district to coordinate pressured advocacy to the state task force reviewing the school funding formula.
Holden and Rutland leaders warned of likely overrides: a Holden official said the town will be "dependent on an override" this year and a Rutland representative told the committee "we will not survive without an override," estimating a roughly $3.2 million gap for Rutland that could mean the loss of about a dozen full‑time positions if an override fails. Paxton and other town speakers said the district's proposed increases will be a difficult sell where municipal guidance capped departmental increases near 2.5%.
Multiple town representatives urged the district and town leaders to present coordinated, town-specific evidence to the legislature and the Chapter 70/78 task force (several speakers said letters and local statistics help get legislative attention). Town leaders requested clearer, town-by-town materials and a specific contingency "Plan B" showing the concrete services, staff and programs that would be cut under a failed-override scenario to help voters understand trade-offs.
Administrators acknowledged the timing challenge for municipal budgets: state budget numbers typically arrive in April while towns set their budgets in May, and the district said it would provide more detailed FTE counts, assessment breakdowns and comparative DESE staffing data in public presentations to inform town discussions. State legislative staff present said house budget action typically occurs in April and encouraged the district and towns to relay information to delegate offices.
No votes were taken; the subcommittee adjourned after town feedback with a commitment from the administration to share more detailed materials and for local leaders to pursue coordinated advocacy to the legislature's task force on funding.
