06/12/2026
BOE Sends 0.13% Budget Decrease to Voters
(Rivereast, 6/12/26)
By Toriana Williams
Voters in Andover, Hebron and Marlborough will return to the polls next Tuesday, June 16, for a third referendum on the RHAM schools’ proposed 2026-27 operating budget. And this time, the budget voters will face is actually a decrease from current year spending. The recently revised RHAM operating budget totaled $32,246,809, a 0.13% decrease from the current year’s $32.05 million. The proposal was approved unanimously by the RHAM Board of Education after a public hearing and special meeting on June 1. The district’s Capital Improvement Plan budget of $331,307 was approved by voters during the May 26 referendum and will not return to voters. The previously rejected operating budget totaled $32.83 million and represented a 0.65% increase over the current year. Although the proposal was down significantly from the original $33.66 million, voters said that was still too much. 0% Increase Request The June 16 referendum came after multiple rounds of reductions and revisions. During the June 1 public hearing, Superintendent of Schools Colin McNamara said the budget process began with an initial proposal of $34.18 million, a 4.77% increase over the current year. “That dollar amount and that percentage increase was after I had removed $800,000 of personnel, class equipment, supplies,” and other requests prior to bringing the budget to the board, said McNamara. The BOE ultimately adopted a $33.66 million proposed budget in April, which represented a 3.19% increase over the current year. After voters overwhelmingly rejected that budget, officials cut $839,837, which brought the proposal down to $32.83 million – which was also shot down at a second referendum. Following the second rejection, board members directed administrators to identify enough reductions to achieve a 0% increase or lower. “We did ask the administrators to go back and take a look at the budget and come up with a variety of items for us to consider that will get us to the 0%,” said BOE Chair Heather Summerer, a Democrat. Summerer detailed the proposed reductions and began with a voluntary furlough day for the district’s central office leadership team, which would save $8,682. “I think it’s important to note that this is something that this group of people agreed to because they all have contracts,” she explained. “They didn’t actually have to agree to that.” McNamara explained additional savings related to negotiations and salary adjustments while preserving raises for many non-represented employees. “We would still give a … 3% increase … for the majority of the people in that non-represented group,” he said. One of the largest reductions involved eliminating two proposed positions that had been included in earlier budgets. “You may remember that there were two positions that we are interested in adding,” Summerer said. “We won’t be moving forward with those two positions.” The eliminated positions included the instructional technology specialist position and indoor-outdoor maintainer position, which would save a total of over $180,000. Additional reductions included shortening administrative assistant positions from 12 months to 10.5 months, reductions in special education transportation spending, professional development, supplies and conference expenses. Administrators ultimately proposed more than $254,000 in additional cuts, which were approved. During the hearing, school officials emphasized that voter turnout would be critical. “This is going to be the third vote,” Summerer said. “It’s going to be hard to get people out, especially in Marlborough and Andover because they feel like they voted already.” Summerer noted that Tuesday’s referendum coincides with the RHAM graduation. “It’s also graduation night,” she said. “People are going to be very busy. Families are going to be coming in. You’re going to be getting torn in a lot of different directions. So I think it’s just really important to encourage people that you know to come out and vote.” “Save our Schools” Public comment reflected both frustration with the lengthy process and support for the district’s efforts to find compromises. Hebron resident Craig Donacki praised the board’s willingness to consider alternatives. “I think the presentation tonight steps in that direction,” Donacki said. “It shows some out-ofthe-box thinking, some things that you’re doing that you don’t have to do, that are in good faith based on the feedback you’re getting.” He also encouraged discussions after the budget season ends. “I think there’s a huge opportunity for all of us to continue this dialogue and to instill better opportunity like this to happen earlier,” he said. Hebron resident Carol Connolly passionately urged residents to support the schools. “Parents, this is my message to you watching tonight. SOS, I’m sending it out – save our schools,” said Connolly. “You have to vote ‘yes,’” she continued. “We have to remind parents to take all cuts seriously because a small leak will sink a great ship. This is a great ship we have here.” She also praised district leadership for its transparency throughout the process. “You’ve done such a great job tonight,” Connolly said. “You are transparent. Your presentation was right on mark.” Hebron resident Kim Kane echoed those concerns. “We can’t rest until this budget passes,” Kane said. “Please get out there and vote. Support our schools.” Kane noted that previous reductions had already affected staffing. “We’ve had seven positions cut. That’s going to affect students,” she said. Marlborough resident Judy Benson-Clarke reminded attendees that the district included three communities. “We are a three-town community that come together,” Benson-Clarke said. “We love RHAM.” Following the public hearing, the board began a special meeting to formally consider the reductions. The board then approved the full package of $254,442 in reductions before unanimously adopting the new operating budget of $32,246,809.
