Auburn proposes $67.7 million FY27 school budget and advances AMS middle-school project planning

Superintendent Dorris presented the Auburn School Department27s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget on April 6, reporting an official end-of-last-year enrollment of 3,281 students and a current enrollment of 3,477 (an increase concentrated in grades 92D12). The total proposed budget is $67,685,744, a 4.9% increase from last year; the city27s local share is $21,688,509, up about 3.3% (~$700,000).

Dorris said the budget is guided by four priorities: student success, equity and access, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. The FY27 proposal eliminates three positions (a bus driver, a van driver and an administrative assistant) and discontinues the suspension diversion program. She said the district did not add any new positions and continues to share services with the city to reduce costs.

Major cost drivers the presentation identified include a 12% increase budgeted for health insurance, special education costs up 9.4% (about $1.5 million), and transportation costs up roughly 22% driven by fuel, wages and benefits. Over the last three years the district has reduced the equivalent of about 39.5 positions.

On revenues, Dorris listed the state subsidy at $34,658,280 (an increase of about $2.61 million, ~8.2%), city contribution at $21.7 million, and debt service aid at $8.2 million (down about $700,000 as Park Avenue is now offline). The proposal includes using $2.35 million of fund balance (up 16% from last year); Dorris said that use would bring the district closer to policy limits but remained within a safe range based on current projections.

Dorris also revisited the AMS project to create a grades 62D8 middle school at the AMS site, arguing it would strengthen middle-school programming and allow reconfiguration or potential closure at the elementary level in response to declining elementary enrollment. She cited a total estimated project cost of $11.2 million with a target to have sixth-graders move to the middle school by fall 2028 if the project moves forward.

Funding pathways for AMS include projected operational savings from closing a school (estimated annual savings of $1.92D2.6 million), potential changes to the state essential programs and services formula that could bring an estimated $250,000 to $1 million (or more) in additional subsidy under some models, and applying for the School Revolving Renovation Fund. District staff noted past forgiveness rates under that program: 61% forgiven in 2020 and 67% forgiven in 2022 for earlier projects; the district expects to apply in fall 2026 for parts of the AMS project that meet program priorities.

Councilors asked about the effects of a lean budget on student supports, the rise in high-school enrollment (partly attributed to the closure of St. Dom27s) and the long-term consequences for state subsidy and facilities. Dorris said the district must prioritize core classroom staffing and that specialized special-education placements sometimes require out-of-district services when the district lacks appropriate programs or staff.

The superintendent asked the council for feedback ahead of the school committee27s Wednesday vote; the school committee will consider the proposed FY27 budget and return any impact statements to the council as requested.

Ending: The school committee is scheduled to vote on the proposed FY27 budget next Wednesday; the council requested additional impact modeling if asked to consider savings scenarios.