Town Meeting Rejects Wachusett School Budget
Paxton Town Meeting rejected the Wachusett Regional School District's $8,544,902 budget, 74-64, while approving an $8,351,406 town budget, 94-45.
Town Meeting · Meeting of May 4, 2026
Paxton Town Meeting rejected the Wachusett Regional School District's $8,544,902 budget, 74-64, while approving an $8,351,406 town budget, 94-45. Superintendent James Riley said the district's 3.09 percent increase was among the lowest in a decade, but Select Board Chair Peter Bogren said the 2.8 percent assessment exceeded the 2.5 percent cap set for town departments. Finance Committee members Love and Dullard pointed to the district's roughly $3.8 million reserve fund in recommending disapproval.
A motion to end debate fell short of two-thirds, 70-57. The approved town budget includes $130,000 tied to the closing of Anna Maria College and depends on a $470,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override on the May 11 ballot. Voters also backed $350,000 in DPW vehicles and a $36,500 fire command vehicle lease, both contingent on a debt exclusion vote the same day.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 1,018 words
Source: the Town Meeting meeting of May 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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