Methuen City Council completes second reading of FY2026 budget; two technical-school assessments rejected

The Methuen City Council completed the second reading of the FY2026 Methuen municipal budget on Wednesday, June 25 at the Great Hall, approving departmental line-item totals and the water and sewer enterprise fund after a line-by-line roll call.

The vote finalized personal-service and other-expense totals across city departments, including a $110,657,252 appropriation for Methuen Public Schools, $15,275,201 for the police department, $14,277,517 for the fire department and a public-safety total of $29,552,718. The water and sewer enterprise fund was recorded at $18,887,582; the transcript records the Greater Lawrence Sanitary District assessment at $4,300,000. The council adopted departmental totals largely by unanimous roll call.

The budget matters because the votes lock in department spending levels that affect city operations and the school budget heading into the new fiscal year; the council’s second reading also recorded several contested motions that could affect how the city’s education assessments and IT spending are handled going forward.

Most departmental items were approved without extended debate. Councilors moved and seconded line-item totals for the council, the mayor’s office, legal services, the city clerk, administration and finance offices, accounting, assessing, public works, human services, elder services, veterans benefits, the Nevins Memorial Library and other routine accounts; the transcript records repeated roll-call approvals described as “unanimous.” The city’s employee-benefit totals were approved after a roll call (employee benefits total recorded as $36,221,379 in the transcript).

Two specific contested outcomes drew extended comment and resulted in failed motions: a proposed $10,000 cut from Information Technology "other expenses" and rejections of two regional technical-school assessments.

Councilor DiZaglio proposed an amendment to reduce the IT other-expenses line by $10,000, arguing for a modest cut after earlier reductions. The motion to remove $10,000 failed on a roll-call vote. The city’s chief administrative and financial officer cautioned against the cut, saying the increase reflected recurring software and subscription costs tied to operations: "I just want to urge some caution... the veil software that lives generally in the PD... that's the reason for that," the CAFO said, adding that some increases reflect programs and subscriptions the department needs to maintain operations.

Two votes on regional technical-school assessments failed at the council table. A motion regarding the Greater Lawrence Technical School assessment failed 5–4 after council discussion about the sending district’s process and administrative oversight. A separate motion to approve the assessment for Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School ("Essex Aggie") also failed 5–4 after debate in which some councilors criticized a lack of administrative engagement from the school, while others urged not to penalize students for district-level communication problems. The city solicitor advised the council that, under guidance from the Department of Education, the regional district formula can still prevail unless another sending community votes no.

Councilor Desaulvaux, speaking during the schools discussion, told colleagues the district remains short-staffed in certain positions: "we're still down a PE teacher and 2 health teachers," he said, urging the school committee to review staffing when it appropriates funds.

Where the council voted no, the transcript indicates the city will monitor how state and district procedures affect final assessments. The solicitor’s comments noted that larger district and state processes can govern whether an individual municipality’s negative vote changes the district outcome.

The council completed the remaining line-by-line votes for enterprise funds, debt service and other non-school assessments before adjourning. The meeting closed after the final roll calls and a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to deduct $10,000 from Information Technology other expenses: Failed (motion declared failed on roll call). Motion recorded as "remove $10,000 from other expenses." Mover: Councilor DiZaglio (as recorded). Second: recorded (not specified). Vote on amendment (selected roll call as recorded): DiZaglio Yes; Ferretra No; Pesch Yes; Saffey No; Sotto No; Cerullo No; Valle No; Campagnon No; Chair Marston No. Outcome: failed.

- Methuen Public Schools total (conference/board appropriation recorded in transcript): Approved by roll call; total recorded in transcript as $110,657,252.

- Greater Lawrence Technical School assessment: Motion failed, recorded 5 no, 4 yes.

- Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School (Essex Aggie) assessment: Motion failed, recorded 5 no, 4 yes.

- Water & Sewer enterprise fund totals and related assessments (including Greater Lawrence Sanitary District $4,300,000): Adopted by roll call; enterprise fund total recorded as $18,887,582.

- Police department (personal services and other expenses): Adopted; totals recorded in transcript as $15,275,201 (police total) and $1,110,836 (police other expenses).

- Fire department total: Adopted; total recorded in transcript as $14,277,517.

- Employee benefits (group health, pensions, etc.): Adopted; combined employee-benefits total recorded as $36,221,379.

What the council decided not to change

- Despite Council votes against the two technical-school assessments, the city solicitor and staff noted state/district rules may still result in Methuen being assessed under the regional formula unless another sending community votes no or other state procedure intervenes.

Supporting details and procedure notes

- The meeting was a formal second reading; the council proceeded line by line and used roll-call votes for each departmental line item. Many departmental votes were unanimous; roll-call approvals are recorded throughout the transcript.

- Several councilors and staff urged caution on single-line reductions tied to subscriptions or cross-departmental software, noting those costs may be obligated by contracts beyond immediate departmental control.

Ending

The council completed the second reading and moved to adjourn after the last roll call. The transcript records routine motions to adjourn and the meeting’s end following completion of the enterprise-fund totals and all recorded roll-call votes.