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Laconia board reviews three budget scenarios for 2026–27, including option that avoids cutting positions by not replacing retirees
Summary
Administrators presented three draft 2026–27 budget options: a $1.9M 'all wants' deficit requiring an exemption and $900K from reserves; a tax-cap-compliant option needing 15 positions cut and $900K from reserves (approx. 3% increase); and a 'green' option (approx. 4.2% increase, $1.4M deficit) that relies on not replacing retirees and using an exemption—presenter favored the third option.
Board members reviewed three draft budget scenarios for fiscal year 2026–27 during the March 3 meeting.
The presenter (business administrator) described three options: an ‘all wants and needs’ package that would produce about a $1.9 million deficit and would require seeking an exemption and drawing $900,000 from reserves; a tax-cap-compliant scenario (approximately a 3% tax-rate increase) that would require cutting roughly 15 certified positions and six support-staff adjustments while still tapping $900,000 in reserves; and a ‘green’ option (described as roughly a 4.2% increase with a $1.4 million deficit) that would avoid involuntary layoffs by not replacing teachers who retire or leave and by using the exemption if necessary.
The presenter recommended the third option as the most palatable because it would avoid cutting filled positions and instead rely on natural attrition and the exemption mechanism. When asked, the presenter clarified the third option would be tax-cap compliant only if the city uses the exemption to exclude bond payments from the calculation. The presenter said the district currently expects two confirmed retirements and two or three moves away — a total of five positions that would not be replaced under that plan.
Board members asked follow-up questions about whether bond payments would be excluded under an exemption, reserve use and the exact headcount of retirees. The presenter said further line-item detail will be provided as the process continues and that buildings are still working on options to trim nonessential items.
No formal budget vote was taken; the board will continue to review options and receive more detailed line-item information at future committee and board meetings.
