Montague board adopts conservative $20.2 million preliminary budget for 2026–27

The Montague Area Public Schools Board of Education on a voice vote approved a proposed 2026–27 budget that the district presented as conservative and subject to revision at the December amendment process. The district’s finance director said the budget models assume roughly $10,300 per pupil in state funding and anticipates about a 50‑student decline in enrollment.

Finance Director Stacy Brown told the board the proposed plan counts on limited state funding details and includes $19 million in projected revenues against about $20.2 million in expenditures, leaving a projected fund balance of roughly $1 million, or about 5.2% of the budget. “This is a conservative budget and we hope that it will fall throughout the summer and will be better than we predict when it comes amendment time in December,” Brown said.

Brown identified several drivers of the shortfall, including the expiration of multiple state and federal grants (notably educator compensation grants) that reduce revenue by about $630,000 in the draft model while the district has identified roughly $825,000 in expenditure reductions. She also flagged continuing costs such as negotiated wage and benefit increases, rising health insurance and utilities, and transportation costs.

The presentation walked the board through category changes: instruction spending is down about $625,000 (reflecting staffing shifts and grant retirements); local revenue declines tied to an electric contract and other local sources; and roughly $250,000 less in federal funds because some grants are ending. Brown said the district is evaluating which capital projects to move to the sinking fund to preserve general‑fund dollars and reduce prevailing‑wage exposure on some construction items.

Board discussion emphasized using attrition to limit staffing reductions and reserving the December amendment window to adjust the plan once state allocations are finalized. The board member who moved approval said the budget is cautious given enrollment uncertainty and pending grant allocations; the motion passed by voice vote (tally not recorded).

Votes at a glance: the board approved the 2026–27 budget; also on the consent/new‑business agenda the board approved MHSA and MASB membership renewals, purchase of two used buses for $166,000, an overnight athletic trip and several personnel hires and contract renewals (see meeting actions).