Superintendent's FY26 Budget Message: February 5, 2025
I am pleased to share with you a summary of the Massachusetts preliminary FY26 budget, which will outline the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead. As we navigate the FY26 budget cycle, I remain committed to our mission of providing high-quality education that meets the needs of all students while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Governor Healey’s recently released FY26 state budget proposal provides key funding increases, particularly in K-12 education. The $61.5 billion budget includes a $458 million, or 5.6 percent, increase in education accounts, with nearly all of that growth driven by full funding of the Student Opportunity Act. This ensures continued investment in the critical areas of special education, mental health services, English learners, and support for low-income students, all of which directly impact our district.
The foundation budget statewide is set to increase by 5.4 percent, reflecting an inflation factor of 1.93 percent. The Governor has proposed a $75 per pupil minimum aid increase, higher than the typical statutory amount but lower than last year’s legislative increase of $104 per pupil. Given rising enrollments in certain communities, our district’s Chapter 70 aid allocation will be an important factor in shaping our budget priorities. While these increases are welcome, it is important to recognize that the foundation rates established by the Student Opportunity Act will continue to rise with inflation even beyond FY27.
Special education funding remains a key area of focus. The Circuit Breaker appropriation will increase by $39 million to a total of $532 million, and a $150 million reserve for special education costs is included in a supplemental FY25 budget, addressing concerns over potential funding shortfalls. These funds will help address rising special education tuition and transportation costs that continue to place pressure on our districts, such as Taunton. In addition, the Governor’s budget introduces a new “School Transportation Reimbursement” account, consolidating Regional and Non-Resident Vocational Transportation aid, with an estimated $16.5 million increase for regional transportation and a $5.2 million increase for non-resident vocational students. While this funding is welcome across many districts throughout the Commonwealth, this funding will not provide relief to the district.
As we prepare our district’s FY26 budget, we must remain proactive in addressing both immediate and long-term financial needs. While the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation provides crucial funding, we must also begin to assess how we will sustain key investments in the years ahead. Ensuring adequate resources for sustaining current class size, special education, mental health, and transportation will be critical as we align our budget priorities with the needs of our students and staff. This process also requires us to maximize the impact of state aid increases while planning for potential state and national changes that could affect funding in future years.
I want to thank my Leadership Team, district administrators and principals for their ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility, without compromising student success. As we move through the next phases of the budget process, I look forward to working collaboratively with the Committee to develop a budget that reflects our educational priorities and ensures that we continue to provide the best possible opportunities for our students.
John J. Cabral
Superintendent, Taunton Public Schools
