North Middlesex committee adopts FY2027 budgets, authorizes $2.75M from reserve to lower town assessments

The North Middlesex Regional School Committee voted April 29 to adopt fiscal year 2027 budgets and to authorize the use of $2,750,000 from the district's excess-and-deficiency (E&D) reserve to offset the operational budget and lower assessments for member towns.

The vote followed nearly two hours of discussion and written public comment. Robin Ivy, the committee secretary, read three letters submitted in advance urging the committee either to distribute unexpected revenues to towns now or to pause action until final state budget figures were known. One of the letters recommended using newly available state aid (cited as about $260,000 in the submission) together with a Valley Collaborative tuition refund to reduce town assessments rather than retaining the money in district reserves.

Why it matters: Committee members debated whether to return one-time funds to towns ahead of town meetings, or to hold the money in district reserves to protect staffing and operations. Supporters said the district had an unusual one-time balance and should relieve municipal budgets; opponents warned some of the returned funds cannot legally be used for staffing and that final state aid amounts remain uncertain.

Committee discussion and key concerns Kim Craven, a committee member who led the finance presentation, and Dr. Cormier of the business office walked members through restricted revolving accounts, the Keystone rental balance (about $70,000), and the Valley Collaborative refund (the administration discussed a figure near $220,000). Kim Craven said using the transportation-reimbursement funds and other allowable revolving-account balances could reduce town assessments "without touching the superintendent's operating budget." She argued the district could ethically return one-time funds to towns that had supported previous budgets.

Superintendent Brad Morgan said he would be "amenable to the $283,000" referenced in the materials but pressed for assurances that any additional state aid that could be used for staffing remain available to fill class-size gaps. "That money cannot be used for staffing next year," Morgan said of the Valley refund and some revolving funds, and he emphasized the committee should preserve the district's ability to address class-size and staffing needs if state funding falls short.

Public comment and letters Robin Ivy read a submitted letter urging the committee to use roughly $260,000 from state aid and a Valley Collaborative refund to reduce town assessments, saying the district's unexpectedly favorable budget developments made a share-back appropriate. Two other submitters, Dawn Priest and Jennifer Forse, asked the committee to pause any assessment reductions until final state figures were available and more public discussion could occur.

The vote and outcome Member Michael LeBossier moved to adopt the FY2027 operational, transportation and debt-service budgets and to authorize the use of $2,750,000 from the E&D account to offset the operational budget; Kim Craven seconded. After roll-call voting the chair declared the motion passed by the required two-thirds majority. Jackie White registered a recorded no vote during the roll call; some members acknowledged abstentions or conflicts for specific line items earlier in the meeting but the committee confirmed the motion met the legal voting threshold.

What the action does and next steps The committee's vote does not change the published operational totals; it authorizes a one-time offset using reserves and identified refundable items to lower the assessment each member town will see heading into town meetings. Administration provided an illustrative breakdown showing an approximate assessment reduction of about $34,909 for Ashby, $138,945 for Pepperell and $109,909 for Townsend in the example presented to the committee. The committee also noted that town meetings retain the authority to accept or reject any changes affecting municipal budgets.

The committee recorded the decision and will continue budget-related work at the district's next meetings; the administration said it will aim to provide clearer accounting and a finalized revenue picture as the state process resolves.

Ending The committee approved the motion and then proceeded with remaining organizational items. The decision to apply E&D funds is a one-time, reserve-based offset; members said they would revisit funding allocations if the final state budget provides materially different revenue.