Littleton School Committee Approves $31.6 Million FY2027 Budget Unanimously

LITTLETON — March 12, 2026 — Littleton School Committee unanimously approved a $31.6 million FY2027 school budget, including a town appropriation request of $26,519,402, a 0.48 percent increase over the prior year. Chair Justin McCarthy presented a budget that met a town request to reduce the school department's appropriated ask by $600,000, assembling a package of revolving fund offsets rather than cutting programs or staff — drawing on transportation reserves, a reinstated Tigers Den facility fee, pre-K revolving funds, projected retirement savings, and a reduction in out-of-district special education tuition. "I wouldn't be surprised if there was a similar type of presentation made next year," McCarthy told the committee, adding he anticipated the situation would improve by FY2029 as town revenues grow. The committee also voted 5-0 to approve a revised Capital Plan for the CASE Collaborative, authorizing the regional special education entity to accumulate a capital reserve of up to approximately $4.3 million from surplus funds at no new cost to member towns. Superintendent Kelly Clenchy, who is retiring after 15 years, told the committee the budget "does not hinder what we are doing next year" and highlighted the Littleton Middle School's National Blue Ribbon designation and the high school's 2025 School of Recognition award.