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Tisbury School board presents $11.34M FY27 budget, seeks $400,000 warrant for stalled solar project
Summary
Tisbury School leaders presented a $11,339,756 FY27 budget described as level service and proposed a $400,000 town warrant article to complete a delayed solar installation expected to offset roughly half of current monthly school electricity costs.
Tisbury School Principal John Custer and Tisbury School Committee Chair Amy Houghton told the Tisbury Finance and Advisory Committee that the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 operating budget totals $11,339,756, an increase of 6.89 percent from FY26, and is structured as “level service” with no new positions or additional staff hours. They said higher contractual salary increases—reflecting a 3.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment, step increases and lane changes—are the main budget drivers.
Custer and Houghton also asked the town to sponsor a $400,000 warrant article to complete a long-delayed school solar installation, citing supply-chain issues and reduced federal grant amounts that have pushed back the project. The presenters said the completed array is expected to cover about 50 percent of current school electricity bills, which they described as roughly $16,000–$20,000 per month, and that the town would apply for an estimated $790,000 rebate on project completion.
School representatives said enrollment fluctuations—partly from changes in federal policy affecting seasonal arrivals—and last year’s School Choice adjustment have affected revenue projections; FY26 Chapter 70 reimbursement was $1,706,000 and FY27 was estimated at about $1,763,000. Custer emphasized that class-size limits are governed by teacher contracts and that the budget includes no new positions. The committee suggested islandwide outreach to encourage families to choose Tisbury School to help stabilize enrollment.
The budget packet on file shows the district absorbed $701,000 in contractual increases across Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools. The Tisbury presentation noted that subsequent years are not expected to see the same degree of cost pressure, and that longevity payments (modest increases for long service) and a small pool for four non-union positions are included in the FY27 plan.
Next steps: FinCom will continue budget review as part of upcoming warrant and town meeting preparations; the solar warrant article would appear on the FY27 warrant if the Select Board and town meeting approve sponsorship.
