Newburyport School Committee approves $47.35 million FY27 budget after debate on special-education cuts and school-choice reserves

The Newburyport School Committee voted to approve a FY27 budget on a voice vote after more than three hours of presentation and discussion, sending a proposed $47.35 million spending plan to the mayor for inclusion in the city's budget process.

The budget before the committee requires a city appropriation of about $41,000,000, which the finance presenter described as "a 3.88% increase over FY26," and relies on roughly $6.4 million in other school revenues to reach a projected total school budget of $47.35 million.

The committee heard detailed testimony from district leadership about steep cost pressures, especially from out-of-district special-education placements. The finance presenter said the district currently projects 34 out-of-district placements for FY27 and noted that residential placements "range anywhere in cost from $300,000 per placement, upwards of over 600 thou thousand dollars per placement," with residential program costs projected at more than $2.5 million for FY27.

Superintendent (presenting) and finance staff…