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FY27 preview: Malden schools face tight year after modest Chapter 70 increase and FY25 shortfall
Summary
Director of finance Tony Mertz said the governor's budget gives Malden a $501,000 Chapter 70 increase for FY27, a smaller than expected amount; combined with a FY25 shortfall the district expects a tight FY27 budget and urged work on the state funding formula and local override outreach.
Tony Mertz, Malden Public Schools' director of finance and operations, told the School Committee that the governor's Chapter 70 proposal includes a $501,000 increase for Malden in FY27 — smaller than district expectations — and that the district also faces a $1.6 million carry‑forward shortfall tied to FY25 net school spending obligations.
"The numbers are not favorable," Mertz said, explaining that the FY25 shortfall must be made up and that available local revenue is substantially less in Malden than in many neighboring communities while obligations for net school spending remain high. The combination of modest state aid and the FY25 variance, he said, means FY27 will be "a fairly tight year."
Committee members discussed the implications for net school spending and the state's funding formula; several members urged forming a working group to review Chapter 70 calculations and to prepare outreach about a possible local override. Committee members noted the city budget side also faces material increases and that the district cannot rely on external fixes in the near term.
One committee member summarized the political and practical consequence: "We are truly on our own now," and urged residents to review city materials on a potential override (cityofmalden.org/override) and participate in forthcoming public forums.
No budget votes were taken at the Feb. 2 meeting; administrators said detailed line‑by‑line budget decisions will be presented in subsequent budget hearings and that they will continue to work with the city to meet net school spending requirements.
