Manchester Essex School Committee unanimously adopts $33.8 million FY27 budget

School Committee · Meeting of February 10, 2026

ESSEX — Manchester Essex Regional School District School Committee unanimously adopted a $33,853,368 operating budget for FY27, a 3.87 percent increase, at its February 10 remote meeting. Business Manager Michelle told the committee the figure reflects more than $1.1 million in reductions from a tentative budget, driven by a health insurance premium assumption dropping from 20 percent to 14 percent, a flattened OPEB contribution saving roughly $500,000, and $250,000 in applied circuit breaker funds. The Manchester assessment rises 3.70 percent and the Essex assessment 4.03 percent after apportionment.

Committee member Jake reported that the reductions likely spare Manchester an operational override while making Essex's potential override "more palatable." The committee also unanimously approved a $3,856,437 capital budget and authorized a final $650,000 bond anticipation note for the Memorial School project, sold to Stern Brothers at 3.25 percent interest and due February 26, 2027.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of February 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.