Ayer Finance Committee Traces State Formula Inflating Town's Nashoba Tech Assessment

AYER -- May 21, 2026, Ayer Finance Committee examines the state growth formula driving up the town's Nashoba Tech assessment. The committee spent the bulk of its May 21 meeting working through state Department of Revenue spreadsheets that calculate Ayer's municipal revenue growth factor, the figure used to determine the town's share of the Nashoba Valley Technical High School budget apportionment. A member identified as Andrew presented the multi-tab Excel files, tracing how new residential growth, the 2.5 percent annual levy limit increase, unrestricted state aid, and local receipts combine into an MRGF of 5.3 percent for Ayer in the most recent fiscal year, compared to 3.7 percent for Groton and 3.5 percent for Chelmsford, both also Nashoba Tech member towns. "The takeaway is that because Ayer does so well," one member said, the state provides less aid and the regional assessment grows accordingly. The committee flagged a follow-up session to examine the full Nashoba Tech apportionment formula and set its next meeting for June 18.