Belchertown Schools Propose 2.4 Percent Budget Increase for Fiscal Year 2027

BELCHERTOWN — February 3, 2026 — Belchertown schools propose a 2.4 percent budget increase for FY27, rising $850,365. The School Committee received the preliminary proposal at its February 3 meeting, with administrators crediting the modest figure to $930,000 in savings from the Cold Spring School closure and a PreK-through-8 grade realignment that were kept entirely out of the new budget request. The district's per-pupil spending of $17,000 ranks 288th out of 305 Massachusetts districts, placing it in the sixth percentile; the recent override is expected to add roughly $800 per pupil, lifting the district only to the 11th percentile. Health insurance remains the largest unresolved variable, projected at a 16 to 20 percent increase, with the district exploring alternatives to its current carrier. No vote was taken; a formal public meeting for committee approval is planned for late March or April.