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Ashland officials propose $3.5 million FY2027 tax package; schools may cut about 13.2 FTE
Summary
Town Manager Michael Herbert presented a four-part FY2027 fiscal plan including a $3.5 million tax package (a $2.75 million override plus a $750,000 debt-exclusion shift); Superintendent James Adams said the schools face roughly $49 million in operating costs and potential reductions of about 13.2 full-time equivalents under some scenarios.
On March 10, 2026, at a joint meeting of the Finance Committee, School Board and Select Board in Ashland, Town Manager Michael Herbert outlined a four-part FY2027 fiscal proposal centered on a $3.5 million tax package intended to close the town’s projected budget gap.
Herbert described the package as a $2.75 million operational override for Ashland Public Schools combined with a previously approved $750,000 debt-exclusion shift. He said the combined measure would increase taxes on the average single-family home—valued at about $734,000 in the town’s estimates—by roughly $545 annually.
The Town Manager framed the proposal as one response to rising fixed and mandated costs that he said are outpacing the town’s revenue capacity. The four measures he presented were: restructuring the budget and placing an override question on the ballot; creating a health insurance stabilization fund; prioritizing maintenance and upgrades to facilities and athletic fields; and renovating the Valentine property to house school administration functions.
Superintendent James Adams presented the Ashland Public Schools budget to the joint meeting, saying the district operates on approximately $49 million annually, including about $4.4 million in revolving funds. Adams said staffing would be reduced by roughly 13.2 full-time-equivalent positions under some scenarios and that the district’s budget would increase approximately 6.18% with the proposed override and about 3.25% without one.
Committee members and board chairs discussed the town’s Stabilization Fund policy and its relationship to the town’s credit rating. Herbert identified an estimated $434,000 gap tied to the school budget and warned that, if voters reject the override, the town would need to draw that gap amount plus about $1.4 million in additional Stabilization Fund resources to balance FY2027, subject to approval at Town Meeting. Members emphasized spreading reductions across both municipal and school budgets rather than concentrating cuts in one area.
The record notes that public questions were taken at the close of the discussion; the minutes do not name individual public speakers or include verbatim public comments. Officials announced a public budget forum co-hosted by the Select Board and School Board for Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Select Board room and via Zoom.
The Finance Committee adjourned at 7:53 p.m. after a motion to adjourn by Jonathan Moore, seconded by Anton Tikhomirov, which passed unanimously.
Next steps: the town will present the proposed override and related budget information to the public at the March 26 forum and, if the override does not pass, Town Meeting would need to consider Stabilization Fund draws and other reductions to finalize FY2027 spending.
