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Harvard School Committee hears FY27 budget; Select Board vote could force further cuts
Summary
Committee leaders presented a FY27 budget showing a 1.56% increase but noted nearly $500,000 lower actual spending after a $726,000 drop in non-tax revenues; the plan reduces six FTEs, adds special-education staff, and may need up to $88,000 more in cuts depending on the Select Board's upcoming warrant vote.
Abigail Besse, chair of the Harvard School Committee, and committee member Brian Killeen presented the district's proposed FY27 budget at the March 9 meeting. The budget shows a 1.56% increase from the prior year, but presenters said actual spending is nearly $500,000 lower because non-tax revenue sources fell by $726,000.
The proposed budget reduces six full-time-equivalent positions to align staffing with enrollment trends, while directing new resources to special education where staff additions are needed. Committee members questioned how fixed costs and several unknowns 2D including upcoming collective-bargaining settlements and utility-price fluctuations 2D could affect the bottom line.
Besse and Killeen said next steps depend on the Select Board's vote on the warrant next week; if the warrant does not support the full request, the district may need to identify up to $88,000 in additional cuts. The committee did not adopt specific contingency reductions at the meeting.
The committee held the public-hearing presentation as part of its regular agenda; no public comments were recorded during the hearing. The committee later recessed briefly on a procedural motion.
