Charlton Select Board Approves $64.9 Million Regional School Budget for FY2027

CHARLTON — April 14, 2026 — Charlton Select Board approves $64.9 million Dudley-Charlton school budget and splits on federal cooperation policy. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District's fiscal year 2027 operating budget of $64,916,011, a 4.35 percent increase over fiscal year 2026, with Charlton's total assessment rising 7.21 percent to $21,720,494. Superintendent Steven Lamarche told the board the district was absorbing a federal entitlement grant reduction — first ordered at 25 percent, then revised to 7-10 percent by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — without passing the difference to member communities. Finance Director Ashley Obrzut highlighted four new firefighters for the town's new station, a School Resource Officer for Charlton schools, and a part-time teen programming position at the public library as the budget's new items. In a separate 4-1 vote, the board approved a Cooperation with Federal Agencies Policy over the objection of Chairman Karen Spiewak, who called it "redundant" and unnecessary, while Library Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Sage urged the board to delay the effective date until town employees receive training on how to evaluate lawful federal requests. ESA planner Wes Shaffer presented a draft community engagement plan for a proposed 150-megawatt battery energy storage facility at 131 Carpenter Hill Road, drawing pushback from Planning Board Alternate Laurie Degnan, who noted Charlton residents had already voted to cap such projects at 5 megawatts and said the town was being "forced by Boston."