Breaking Down the 2026 School Budget: What the Numbers Really Mean for New Boston

The proposed 2026 school budget has been positioned as being lower than the 2025 budget. Let’s take a closer look at the details:

• The Proposed FY 2026 Budget is $159,475 lower than the 2025 budget.

• When looked at by school, the MVMS budget is down $30,707 year-over-year, GHS is down $258,065, and NBCS is up $129,297.

The proposed 2026 school budget does not include the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Warrant Article. If the CBA passes, it will add $320,909 in expenses, with $12,302 offset by the Special Revenue Fund for the first year (instead of taxation). This would result in a $437,904 year-over-year increase in NBCS expenses.

Looking ahead, if approved, the agreement's second and third years will add $204,101 in 2027 and $213,165 in 2028. In 2027, the base budget would increase by $525,010 (reflecting years 1 & 2 of the CBA), representing a 5.1% year-over-year increase—before factoring in any additional budget adjustments.

Goffstown lowered the 2026 cost to New Boston for our MVMS and GHS students by $288,772 year-over-year. The real question is—can Goffstown keep these lower costs in the future?

I recommend passing the CBA Warrant Article for our teachers, but we must also carefully investigate what is required for the 2027 budget to achieve fiscal responsibility and ensure a sustainable future for our schools and community.

#SchoolBudget #SmartInvestments #FiscalResponsibility #Transparency #NewBoston