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Cape Cod Tech projects 4.5% FY27 budget increase as enrollment rises; lottery set for March 17
Summary
Cape Cod Regional Technical High School presented a FY2027 budget that rises about 4.51% ($~833,000), citing enrollment growth, OPEB liabilities and higher insurance costs; the school plans a March 17 lottery for next year’s freshman class and expects a solar canopy to supply roughly 40% of campus power.
Dr. Robert Sanborn III, superintendent of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, presented the district’s FY2027 budget to the Yarmouth Finance Committee, saying the budget increase is 4.51%, approximately $833,000 over FY26. "Our local revenue is $120,000 this year because we are building our E&D account," Sanborn said, explaining the district’s use of reserves.
Sanborn said enrollment has grown since 2019: "We currently have 471 applications for 190 spots in next year's freshman class," and that the district will conduct its first-ever lottery for admissions on March 17. He noted 31 students enrolled this year come from the Town of Yarmouth and that Yarmouth is the district’s second-largest feeder town after Barnstable.
On cost drivers, Sanborn pointed to benefits, general insurance and materials and services; teacher salaries account for 34.2% of the budget and retiree costs total about $1.7 million. He said the district’s OPEB unfunded liability is approximately $20,988,232 and outlined a multi-decade funding plan, noting the district is contributing to the trust: "We are putting $225,000 towards it to grow the trust," he said.
Committee members pressed for details on transportation and special-education trends. Rafael Gutierrez asked for a summary of the district’s transportation contract; Sanborn said the district put about $73,000 into a transportation reimbursement fund to offset prior contract increases and that transportation is on a fixed contract for five years. On special education, Sanborn said the share of students classified as special needs has fallen from about 32% five years ago to roughly 19.8% today.
Sanborn also described capital and energy plans: a solar canopy over the bus depot is expected to supply about 40% of the school’s electricity when online, and the district is on a power-purchase agreement paying about $0.11 per kilowatt-hour. He said that with the canopy and other measures the district expects utility savings.
The Finance Committee did not take an explicit vote on the Cape Cod Tech budget during this session; the presentation informed the committee’s review of the FY2027 operating assessment for member towns.
