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Council approves FY2027 Portsmouth Public Schools budget and $2.5M fund transfer to cover mandated raises
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance that transfers $2,522,484 into the general fund and approves a $304,612,975 FY2027 operating budget for Portsmouth Public Schools; council members stressed that the $2.5M transfer is a one-time fix while urging longer-term revenue-sharing talks with the school board.
City Clerk Deborah White read a revised ordinance transferring $2,522,484 from the FY2027 risk-management schools revenues fund to the general fund and approving the Portsmouth Public School System’s FY2027 operating budget of $304,612,975.
Resident Sergio O'Neil spoke in support of approving the request but urged better communication between city council and the school board as he prepares to send his child to kindergarten in the division. Council members discussed four options presented during a prior work session to cover a $2.5 million gap after the state-mandated 4% teacher raise (the school had estimated 2%). Councilwoman Thomas said the fund transfer was a "temporary one-time fix" and said she supported it while urging council and the school board to work on a revenue-sharing agreement going forward.
Council moved to adopt the ordinance and the electronic vote recorded the item as adopted 6–0. Several members emphasized that the funding fills an immediate gap to pay state-required raises and that long-term structural funding changes should be pursued in the coming year.
