Brockton School Committee votes $255 million school budget over mayor's objection

BROCKTON — May 19, 2026 — Brockton School Committee recommends $255 million school budget as mayor vows to forward a lower number to the City Council. The committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to recommend net school spending of $255,525,806 and a non-net budget of $24,422,667 for FY2026-27, with member Steven Pina casting the lone dissenting vote on both. Mayor Anthony Sullivan, who chairs the body and participated by phone, told members bluntly, "I can only write checks that my body can cash," saying the city cannot fund $255 million and would submit its own lower figure to the council. Superintendent Gerry Tegliani warned that the City Council's current non-net proposal of $18 million falls roughly $6.4 million short of the district's request, putting high school transportation and a slate of community schools summer programs — including Junior Boxer Camp and youth aquatics — at risk of elimination. Member Kathy Oliver accused the administration of bypassing the committee entirely, while Pina called for a joint city-school finance committee and an after-action review of what he called an opaque budget process driven by percentage figures rather than concrete data.