(March 17, 2026) – The Ayer-Shirley Regional School Committee met on Tuesday and voted to certify the FY2027 budget. The committee voted to approve the FY27 ASRSD General Fund budget of $36.7 million – a 5.5 percent increase from the current year.
This represents a level services budget, according to the written budget presentation materials.
Four School Committee members attended in person. One attended via remote access and another was absent. The vote was 5-0.
Ayer. The committee voted to approve a $16.19 million FY2027 Operating and Debt Service Agreement for the Town of Ayer. This is a 5.8 percent increase, compared to the 11.9 percent increase the district proposed to the Ayer Select Board in early February.
Shirley. The committee voted to approve the FY27 Operating and Debt Service Assessment for the Town of Shirley at $10.3 million – a 7.5 percent increase.
The School Committee had to approve a budget 45 days before the first member community’s annual town meeting. Ayer Town Meeting is scheduled for April 27th and Shirley meets on May 11th.
However, it was stated that the School Committee can re-certify the budget if the number goes down or use additional grants or other funds that become available that don’t change community assessments. The superintendent said the committee can expect to learn more at the next meeting.
As for health insurance, this budget reflects a lower-than-expected assessment. While the district had forecast a potential 14.4 percent increase, this ended up being in the 6 percent range.
The Ayer-Shirley Regional School District and the two communities plan to review the district funding agreement in coming months. We have heard this said at Select Board meetings in both towns and the school committee meeting.
One point about this budget is the student foundational enrollment. Shirley has 23 more students in FY2027 over the current year. Ayer has a decrease of about 88 students, which the district attributes in part to the closure of the migrant shelter at a local motel (about 30 students, according to the Ayer Select Board meeting presentation).