Littleton School Committee Adopts Trimmed $26.5 Million FY27 Budget Plan

LITTLETON — January 22, 2026 — Littleton School Committee approves a $26.5 million FY27 budget that holds the line on staffing but drains reserves. The four-member committee, meeting January 22 without Chair-absent Vice Chair Binal Patel or Superintendent Kelly Clenchy, voted unanimously to advance a revised budget request of $26,519,402 — a 0.48 percent increase over FY26, down from an originally proposed 2.75 percent — after the Select Board and Finance Committee asked the school department to absorb $600,000 of a roughly $2.2 million town-wide shortfall. Business Manager Steve Mark said the gap will be covered through a combination of revolving fund drawdowns and one-time savings, including $134,187 from the Bus Revolving Fund, $150,000 reinstated from a Tigers' Den facility charge, and $165,813 in reduced special-education out-of-district tuition. Chair Justin McCarthy called it a one-year "limp through" strategy: "Our salaries are projected to go up $874,000 and we're only asking the town for an extra $125,000." The committee also voted unanimously to appoint Raina Sturtz to the Superintendent Search Screening Committee in place of Catherine Johnson, and approved 13 updated district policies on second reading.