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Monty Tech presents FY27 budget; Gardner's assessment rises modestly
Summary
Monty Tech leaders presented a FY2027 budget showing higher per-student vocational rates and a proposed $35.5M spending plan that includes a $3.6M athletic field project financed via a tax-exempt lease; Gardner's share of Monty Tech's FY27 assessment is presented as $1,271,625 (an increase of $7,767).
Monty Tech officials presented the regional vocational school's FY2027 budget to the Gardner City Council on April 17, outlining foundation rates, enrollment changes, capital projects and the resulting assessment for Gardner.
Tom Brown, superintendent at Monty Tech, summarized programmatic developments including new offerings (veterinary science), heavy success in grant-seeking ($3.6 million in FY25 grants highlighted), and the MVP Academy satellite partnership that allows Gardner students to receive vocational training while keeping chapter-70 funding in their home district.
Tammy Crockett, Monty Tech's business manager, explained foundation budget rates for FY27 that drive per-pupil calculations: vocational rates above the standard high-school base increase the per-student allocation for students attending Monty Tech. She noted that Monty Tech is a "hold-harmless" district under state rules, which affects the relationship between the foundation budget and the state's required net school spending calculation.
Crockett presented Monty Tech's FY27 budget components, including net school spending (presented at about $31.8 million), transportation (about $2.6 million for buses and vans), and an above-net-school-spending item tied to a proposed $3.6 million athletic field and bleacher renovation financed by a tax-exempt lease; the annual lease payment for that project was presented as roughly $400,000 and is included in net school spending for FY27. The school committee proposed offsetting that capital cost by reducing other capital spending and using reserves to avoid a large spike in towns' assessments.
After offsets (transportation aid and use of the district's excess-and-efficiency account), Monty Tech gave Gardner a proposed FY27 assessment of $1,271,625 — an increase of $7,767 from the current year — which Crockett broke down by foundation enrollment (147 students from Gardner), transportation share and reserve offsets.
Monty Tech officials also described a state-required lottery for regional vocational seats, the district's quotas (Gardner allotted 39 freshman slots in the 365-student incoming class) and continuing efforts to secure competitive grants and private donations to support programs and equipment.
The presentation concluded without a formal council vote; Gardner councilors heard the details and had an opportunity to ask questions.
