AMHERST — Amherst’s elementary schools are facing a potential deficit of up to $1.4 million in a $29.06 million fiscal year 2026 budget, as a budgetary freeze in the current fiscal year is being considered by school officials.

Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman told the School Committee last week that the anticipated budget to maintain current services, is $2.09 million, or 7.7% higher than this year’s $26.97 million budget. The figure is well over the expected $27.64 million town budget target, assuming Amherst provides a 2.5% year-over-year increase. The deficit could be reduced to around $1 million with an increase to 4% year-over-year with town support.

“This is still early in terms of projections,” Herman said. “We do have negotiations with APEA (Amherst Pelham Education Association) coming forward, we do have scenarios and conversations we need to run with the team.”

But Herman cautioned that no examination has been made of what sort of cuts could be coming in a worst-case scenario, though she would prioritize cuts to operational spending over instructional spending.

“We have not run possible saving scenarios as yet,” Herman said.

“Realistically, this gives us an opportunity to see what we’re facing,” Herman said.

The brief budget presentation comes before the Nov. 4 financial indicators meeting in which town financial officials will inform the Town Council, Amherst and Regional school committees and Jones Library trustees about anticipated funding levels.

School Committee Chairwoman Sarah Marshall said Herman and her team should wait on considering any reductions until that meeting.

School Committee member Jennifer Shiao thanked Herman for the information, suggesting that preliminary cuts be prepared for the committee’s meeting in mid-November.

Herman said the spending plan is based on various assumptions aside from town support, including a 13% health insurance increase and cost of living and step adjustments for staff and no use of Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency relief fund money. In addition, $750,000 in school choice money would be applied to payroll lines and $382,000 in state “circuit breaker” money related to special education.

There are higher central office costs due to legal costs associated with personnel and an increase in insurance, and transportation will be higher because that contract has to go out to bid.

Herman said her team will be looking for grants that could support the budget. 

Meanwhile, a likely budget freeze could be implemented for this year’s budget, based on the first quarter report. Other adjustments may also need to be made in moving through the fiscal year.

Herman said she is seeing certain things in payroll that need to be addressed going forward, and concerns about bringing on new staff who may have to be released if the budget challenges continue.

Special education is also trending above projections, with the need to procure services out of district.

Facilities is also trending to the high side, with the fire alarm system at Crocker Farm School replaced this fall, and the burden of deferred maintenance coming to a head, Herman said.

“We are definitely looking to see where else in the budget we can support facilities, because without facilities there is not an adequate environment for teaching and learning,” Herman said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.