Dover-Sherborn Regional School Committee Unanimously Adopts $32.6 Million FY27 Budget

SHERBORN — March 12, 2026 — Dover-Sherborn Regional School Committee unanimously adopted a $32.6 million fiscal year 2027 operating budget and approved a $1.44 million high school roof project at its March 12 meeting. The committee voted 6-0 on both items after CFO Dawn walked members through a third round of budget revisions that cut the overall increase from 5.03 percent to 3.49 percent, reducing total town assessments by more than $600,000 from the initial proposal through a combination of lower health insurance costs, increased use of the district's $200,000 excess and deficiency fund, and offsetting staffing adjustments. Dover's assessment will rise approximately 2.6 percent and Sherborn's approximately 3.77 percent — differences driven largely by a 0.5 percent enrollment-apportionment swing toward Sherborn and state minimum local contribution calculations, not the budget increase alone. Projected enrollment for fiscal year 2027 is 1,000 students, down from 1,073, pushing per-pupil costs to just under $30,000. The high school roof bid of $1,423,575 — well below the $2 million November placeholder — came from the lowest of six contractors and was recommended by the district's project manager; with a $13,500 administration fee the total project cost is $1,437,075, to be financed by the two towns through an inter-municipal agreement. Both Sherborn's April 28 and Dover's May 4 annual town meetings must still ratify the budget.