North Middlesex committee adopts FY27 budget, authorizes $2.5M from reserve to limit town assessments

The North Middlesex Regional School District School Committee voted on March 10 to adopt its FY27 operational budget and to authorize the use of $2,500,000 from the district’s excess and deficiency (E&D) account to offset assessments to member towns.

The motion, moved by Kim Craven and seconded by Keenan Francois, described the FY27 operational and transportation budgets as presented in the packet and recommended the one‑time use of $2,500,000 from E&D to lower town assessments. Craven read the motion aloud: “Additionally, I would recommend the authorization of the use of 2,500,000.0 from the excess and efficiency account to offset the fiscal year FY27 budget.” The committee adopted the motion in a roll‑call vote required for a monetary item; members recorded ‘Yes’ on the public record.

Why it matters: Committee members and administrators said the package preserves staffing and classroom priorities while keeping the assessed cost to the towns at a lower level than earlier proposals. Administrators described targeted restorations including four full‑time equivalents intended to lower middle‑school class sizes and additional support for technology and special‑education programming.

What supporters said: Administrators and some committee members framed the plan as a pragmatic, time‑sensitive compromise. One administrator summarized the adjustments that produced roughly $107,000 in cuts and added the $500,000 E&D usage (part of the overall $2.5M authorization) as necessary to present a budget that all three member towns could accept.

What critics asked: Several members pushed back on using one‑time E&D funds for what can appear to be recurring needs. A committee member asked whether the extra $500,000 (and the broader $2.5M authorization) would become recurring in practice and whether the district can present a multi‑year plan to return E&D to the policy target (about 3% of the operating budget). Administrators said some uncertainty — notably final open‑enrollment and state‑aid outcomes — makes multi‑year certainty difficult today and pledged to pursue a plan and report back.

Votes at a glance: - FY27 operational budget and authorization to use $2,500,000 from E&D — Approved (roll‑call; recorded yes votes were read aloud on the record). - Policy JG (Middle School Pathways) — Adopted (voice vote). - Best Buddies International Leadership Conference trip (chapter president + advisers/parent chaperones to Indiana University in July 2026) — Approved (voice vote).

Budget details and clarifications: The motion text in the meeting packet included the operational and transportation budget dollar lines as presented to the committee; some numeric characters in the transcript are garbled. The committee specifically authorized the $2,500,000 draw from E&D in its motion (that amount is stated plainly in the motion language). Administrators reported expected FY26 closeouts and additional revenue sources (for example Valley Collaborative closeouts) that they expect will affect year‑end balances. The district also noted an apparent 0% projected change to health‑insurance premiums in the administrators’ projection, a point that drew committee questions.

Next steps: The administration will return updated budget tracking and a plan for E&D usage to the committee prior to or at the April 14 meeting as members requested. The committee also scheduled follow‑up conversations about multiyear approaches to reduce reliance on one‑time reserves.