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Budget‑cap debate: Brookline petition to cap spending per pupil is amended to $100,000

Hollis/Brookline Coop School District Deliberative Session · February 5, 2026

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Summary

A petition warrant article proposing a $25,000‑per‑pupil budget cap drew extensive public opposition; an amendment raised the figure to $100,000 and the assembly voted to amend the warrant text. The amended article will appear on the March 10 ballot for voters to decide.

Moderator opened Article 10, a petition asking whether the district should adopt a statutory budget cap that limits recommended budgets to $25,000 per pupil multiplied by average daily membership in residence (ADMR) and indexed for inflation (CPI‑U Northeast). Eric Power presented the measure, described the override mechanism (a three‑fifths vote) and said the cap is intended to provide "common sense and affordable guardrails for the district total spending."

During discussion an attendee challenged the enrollment numbers on the presenter’s slide as inaccurate and read corrected FY enrollment figures. Rob Rushton raised a legal concern about whether the petition language (including a fixed $25,000 base) aligned with the statutory options in RSA 32:5; counsel and others debated which subsection of the statute the petition text invoked.

Several residents opposed a budget cap, arguing it could hamstring the school board and complicate budgeting. Tom Sowell moved to amend the article to change the base dollar amount from $25,000 per pupil to $100,000 per pupil. Supporters of the amendment said raising the number preserved voter choice; opponents said the change would effectively neuter the cap. Following debate the moderator put the amendment to a vote and announced, "The motion carries. The text is amended." The transcript records no roll‑call tally for the amendment; the moderator’s announcement indicates the amendment passed and the warrant text will show $100,000 per pupil on the ballot.

After the amendment, speakers urged voters to reject the amended article on election day. The deliberative session then closed discussion and moved to the next article.