Winchester Town Meeting adopts $171 million budget, cuts 32 school jobs
Winchester Town Meeting passed a $171 million fiscal 2027 budget without an override, cutting 32 school positions. Finance Committee Chair Derek Ross said free cash sits at $21 million against a $10 million floor the town won't cross, and that balancing the budget took a $3.2 million transfer.
Town Meeting · Meeting of May 8, 2026
Winchester Town Meeting passed a $171 million fiscal 2027 budget without an override, cutting 32 school positions. Finance Committee Chair Derek Ross said free cash sits at $21 million against a $10 million floor the town won't cross, and that balancing the budget took a $3.2 million transfer. The School Committee's chair said the district's cuts reflect costs outpacing revenue, "not poor fiscal management." Member Roger Wilson pressed Superintendent Dr.
Hackett on enrollment projections. Town Meeting rejected a ranked-choice voting study committee 75-72, with one member calling it "a solution looking for a problem," and indefinitely postponed a proposed Carriage House study committee after Monday's vote had already rejected demolishing the building. Members did approve restructuring the Educational Facilities Planning and Building Committee, adding two permanent seats via an amendment from Heather von Meering.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 1,019 words
Source: the Town Meeting meeting of May 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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