Timberlane administrator outlines $9–10M drivers and non‑required 'buckets' that could be cut to reduce FY27 ask

District staff told the Timberlane budget committee on Nov. 24 that the proposed fiscal‑27 budget stands at about $92 million (including capital reserve) versus a default budget near $90.5 million, a near‑$10 million proposed increase the administration said is driven largely by personnel and transportation costs.

The presenter walked committee members through a set of non‑required budget 'buckets' that could be reduced if the committee wished to lower the FY27 number. Examples and illustrative savings presented included eliminating five regular education buses and late buses under a restricted distance policy (projected transportation savings of $565,000), reducing roughly three average administrator positions plus assistants ($615,000), eliminating 12 elementary teaching positions under higher class‑size scenarios ($1.1 million), eliminating 41 regular‑education paraprofessionals ($2.0 million), and cutting athletics, music and theater stipends and related costs ($1.47 million). The presenter also flagged capital projects and phase 4 of an energy efficiency lease (presently estimated at $844,000) as potential timing adjustments.

The presenter emphasized that 'non‑required' meant not required by state statute but does not mean voters or prior boards did not value the programs. A committee member warned of political risk in framing reductions as simply 'non‑required' because past voters had supported some of the items. The presenter said staffing estimates in the examples included salary, FICA and New Hampshire retirement but did not yet include health and fringe benefits until later refinement.

Committee members asked for more granular, itemized numbers (contract totals, exact bus counts and which towns would lose routes); the presenter agreed to provide additional documentation and indicated the administration could negotiate payment timing with Bank of America on the phase‑4 lease to push cost to a later fiscal year if feasible.

Representative quote: "If we wanna talk about values where we don't wanna spend that type of money, this is the formal thing to do," the presenter said, summarizing the choices before the committee.