Beauregard Announces Plan to End FY27 Furloughs, Add School Funds

METHUEN — Mayor Beauregard has announced legislation aimed at eliminating unpaid employee furloughs for fiscal year 2027 while increasing the city's investment in public education, according to a city announcement this week.

TOWN HALL The furlough and education-funding measure was the most significant of several City Hall updates posted this week. City officials did not detail the legislation's dollar figures or timeline in the announcement, but framed it as ending furloughs for municipal employees while directing added money toward the school budget.

The city also opened preregistration for a new curbside composting program run with Black Earth Compost, giving residents another option for cutting household waste. Separately, the Health Department is holding a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Saturday, July 18, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Transfer Station on Huntington Avenue; construction debris, trash, recycling and yard waste will not be accepted. The city will also conduct preventive mosquito control spraying at parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and school recreation areas Monday, July 20, from roughly 9 p.m. to midnight, with Tuesday, July 21, as the rain date.

Free Summer Eats meals remain available this summer for all children and teens 18 and under at four Methuen sites, with no registration, ID or proof of income required. And the city has scheduled a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Involvement Meeting for July 29 to update residents on CDBG programming.

COMING UP - Monday, July 20: Circle of Hope Family Support Group. - Wednesday, July 22: Zoning Board of Appeals regular meeting. - Thursday, July 23: Methuen Retirement Board meeting. - Thursday, July 23: Charter Review Committee meeting. - Thursday, July 23: Historic District Commission meeting. - Thursday, July 23: Methuen Disability Pride Month flag-raising ceremony.