Nashoba Valley Tech Seeks $20.3 Million Budget, Ayer Assessment Climbs Sharply

AYER — February 19, 2026 — Nashoba Valley Technical High School presented a proposed $20.3 million fiscal year 2027 budget to the Ayer Finance Committee on February 19, an increase of 4.81 percent over the current year. Superintendent Dr. Pidgeon, accompanied by business manager Michelle Bouvet and Ayer school committee representative Chris Prail, explained that Ayer's required local contribution is rising $234,107 — a jump driven not by the school's own spending but by a state funding formula that pegged Ayer's municipal revenue growth factor at 6.71 percent, up from 5.3 percent the prior year. The school cut approximately $1.5 million from initial budget requests, deferred capital projects for a second consecutive year, and paused a $100,000 annual OPEB payment. The school's $1.8 million capital stabilization fund has been authorized to cover a $600,000 to $900,000 MSBA feasibility study for a full HVAC and heat pump roof replacement, with the state expected to reimburse 55 percent of eligible costs. Finance Committee members called for state legislative intervention, naming Representative Cena and Senator Elbridge as contacts, and noted that the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools has been actively lobbying for formula changes.