Chicopee school budget subcommittee unanimously advances $132.8 million FY26 spending plan

CHICOPEE -- May 1, 2025, Chicopee school budget subcommittee forwards $132.8 million FY26 spending plan with three-year deficit warning. The four-member subcommittee voted 4-0 Thursday to send the fiscal year 2026 budget recommendation to the full School Committee, a zero-balanced plan that draws $7,688,342 from the district's education stabilization fund and asks the City Council for an additional $1.25 million appropriation on top of the base budget. Director of Finance John Mayarecki warned that the stabilization fund, currently holding roughly $13.7 million, is projected to reach zero by FY28, at which point the district would need an estimated $12.79 million in new city appropriation to balance its books, the equivalent, he noted, of cutting more than 170 teaching positions at current average salaries. Member Lamoth pushed for including the $1.25 million city ask: "If we don't ask, we're not going to get it." The budget reflects a net reduction of 16 district-wide positions from FY25 and adds ten family engagement liaisons and multiple English language learner teachers funded through state emergency shelter reimbursement, while converting several contracted behavioral support vendor arrangements into in-house positions as a cost-saving measure.