Waltham School Committee Votes to Seek $7.7 Million Above Mayor's Budget

WALTHAM — June 10, 2026 — Waltham School Committee votes 6-0 to ask City Council for $7.77 million above mayor's FY27 school budget. The committee approved the $7,772,799 request at a June 10 special meeting, bringing the total sought to approximately $136.8 million against Mayor McCarthy's proposed $129 million. Superintendent Dr. Mendonza's presentation identified a $3.3 million gap in out-of-district special education costs alone, plus $1.6 million in signed transportation and curriculum contracts not covered by the mayor's 4.7 percent increase. The motion, made by Mr. Torello and seconded by Ms. Wong-Vigelow, was driven in part by a state-mandated June 15 deadline for notifying non-professional-teaching-status educators of non-renewal. Mayor McCarthy, present at the meeting, confirmed the council has legal authority to honor the request provided the total remains within the city's Proposition 2½ levy capacity, which she estimated at roughly $31 million above current projections.