Committee rejects $1.7 million budget, backs smaller increase

School Committee · Meeting of March 24, 2026

Greenfield School Committee rejects a $1.7 million budget increase, then approves a smaller one. The committee voted 3-4 against a fiscal 2027 budget carrying a 7.46 percent, $1.7 million increase before passing a revised $1,267,480 increase, 5.35 percent, on a 5-0 vote with two abstentions. Mayor DeSorger proposed offsetting $500,000 using the district's pre-K revolving fund, warning the original number exceeded what the city could legally fund without an override.

Member Dightman said roughly 85 percent of the increase comes from contractual salaries and new special education costs, calling it "unavoidable." Vice Chair Childs said "the schools are not getting a $1.7 million increase," calling the budget a starting point for negotiations. The committee also voted unanimously to authorize the chair to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Greenfield Education Association and entered executive session for contract talks. The revised budget now goes to the mayor ahead of an April 1 deadline.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of March 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.