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Worcester School Committee adopts $623.8 million FY27 budget after line-item votes
Summary
After line-by-line consideration of administrative salaries, substitutes, paraeducators, transportation and other accounts, the Worcester School Committee approved a $623,811,068 FY27 budget and then voted to enter executive session to review minutes under Massachusetts law.
After a line-by-line review of budgets for administrative salaries, substitutes, paraeducator and supplemental-program accounts, custodial and maintenance services, and special-revenue funds, the committee moved to adopt the FY27 budget totaling $623,811,068.
During discussion members pressed administration for clarifications: comparisons of administrative staffing with Springfield (administration said Springfield had 62 comparable administrative positions versus Worcester's 49), reallocation of positive-youth-development funding into other needs, the restoration of literacy tutors (administration said 20 FTEs will be attached to the literacy-tutor line), and reasons for elevated custodial and transportation overtime (administration cited exceptional snow events and absenteeism that drove overtime spending).
The roll-call vote to adopt the FY27 budget passed by majority recorded vote. Immediately after the adoption vote, the committee voted to enter executive session under Massachusetts General Laws to review executive-session minutes, with a return to open session expected afterward.
Members requested follow-up reports on (1) energy and electric-bill variations across schools, (2) the list of schools receiving literacy tutors and building substitutes, and (3) breakdowns of overtime associated with snow removal and other drivers.
