Auburn School Committee approves FY27 budget with 3.92% increase after town adjustment

The Auburn School Committee voted March 4 to approve a revised FY27 budget that reflects a 3.92% increase after the town manager requested further reductions. The motion passed by voice vote.

Superintendent Dr. Chamberlain said the town manager had asked the district to cut its earlier draft; the district trimmed five highlighted positions by budgeting them at a bachelor’s step 1 rather than a master’s step 2 to reduce salary obligations, saving approximately $7,000 per position. Additionally, the high school staff position currently on leave had its budgeted salary reduced from $84,000 to $64,000. The superintendent said those changes, together with a $30,000 town offset on athletics and fine arts, brought the district’s increase down to 3.92%.

Committee members expressed concern about hiring new graduates into certain roles—noting potential classroom challenges in subjects like high-school math—but said the district must balance fiscal realities with staffing needs. Dr. Chamberlain said principals have been working to hire qualified candidates while acknowledging the challenge of filling some roles at the lower starting step.

The committee moved, seconded and approved the updated FY27 budget. Dr. Chamberlain said the budget will proceed to the finance committee on April 1 and that the generator replacement article (an estimated $314,000 request for installation and purchase) will be added to the town warrant for May 5 if the committee votes to forward it at a future meeting.