Dartmouth Offers Schools 4.5 Percent Budget Increase, Falls Short of 6.85 Percent Request

DARTMOUTH — March 23, 2026 — Dartmouth's Select Board and School Committee met jointly March 23 and ended without resolving a gap between the school department's 6.85 percent FY27 budget increase request and the 4.5 percent the town says it can offer. Town Administrator Cody Haddad and Director of Budget and Finance Gary Brewer presented a projected revenue base of approximately $113.2 million for FY27 — a 4 percent increase over FY26 — but said fixed costs, nearly flat state aid growth of 1.2 percent, and declining new growth of roughly $821,000 leave little room to meet the schools' full ask. Education costs, including Dartmouth Public Schools, New Bedford Voc-Tech, Bristol Aggie, and school employee benefits, already account for more than 65 percent of the general fund, approximately $73 million. Brewer cited Massachusetts Municipal Association warnings from January that a slowing economy is reducing state revenues to cities and towns, adding that local receipts are already budgeted at 93 percent of prior-year actuals — the most aggressive estimate the town has used. The School Committee was directed to return with a list of essential needs; the Select Board meets again March 30.