Conway School Budget Projected to Exceed 5 Percent for Third Straight Year

CONWAY — January 12, 2026 — Conway School Committee opens FY27 budget talks with a projected 5.71 percent increase driven by insurance and a lost rural aid designation. Business Administrator Shelley presented the preliminary figures at the January 12 meeting, showing a level-service general fund increase of approximately $133,000, with an additional $9,500 in principal's requests bringing the total proposed growth to 5.81 percent, or just over $135,000. The two primary non-wage drivers are the loss of roughly $32,000 in rural aid — confirmed as income-driven, not enrollment-driven — and a 20 percent placeholder increase in central office health insurance through the Hampshire Regional Insurance Trust, adding another $30,000. Superintendent Darius noted this would mark the third consecutive year the elementary school budget has grown above 5 percent, telling the committee, "if it's an ongoing expense you can't sweep it under the rug one year because then you have a multi-year increase the next year." The governor's state budget release on January 23 will provide the first hard Chapter 70 and assessment figures, with substantive budget decisions expected at the February meeting.