Beauregard Announces Plan to End FY27 Furloughs, Boost Schools

Mayor D.J. Beauregard announced legislation this weekend to eliminate unpaid furloughs for city employees in fiscal year 2027 while directing new investment toward Methuen's public schools, marking the most substantive City Hall news of the past two days.

TOWN HALL

Beauregard's office said the legislation would end the furlough days the city has used in recent budget cycles to manage costs for municipal employees, while separately increasing funding for public education. The announcement, posted to the city's website, did not include specific dollar figures, a City Council timeline, or details on which departments have been affected by furloughs previously.

Elsewhere at City Hall, officials continued preparations tied to earlier announcements this month on the locked-in electric supply rate and the city's new Acting Police Chief, Captain Jamie Moore, though no new developments on either were posted in this window.

SCHOOLS

Methuen Public Schools stands to benefit from the funding increase tied to Beauregard's furlough legislation, according to the mayor's office. District officials had not released additional budget specifics as of Sunday on how the new investment would be allocated.

COMING UP

Methuen airs a live Overdose Awareness Day television program Monday, Aug. 31, on MCTV.

Methuen High School staff report for the first day of the 2026-2027 school year Tuesday, Sept. 1, with students returning Wednesday, Sept. 2. Classes are canceled Friday, Sept. 4, and schools are closed Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day.

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.