The Manchester School District is getting more money than last year, but not as much as school bureaucrats requested. And that’s just fine with GOP Mayor Jay Ruais.
On Tuesday, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen reached an agreement on both the school district budget and 10 of the city’s union contracts.
The Democrat-dominated school board had requested a $11.5 million spending hike. The final budget increases spending by $3.5 million to a FY 2026 total of $238.4 million.
“That represents a record level of funding from the city for the coming school year,” Ruais noted.
After a spending proposal raising spending by $4 million failed in an 8-7 vote Tuesday night, Ruais’ spending plan passed by a 10-4 margin.
“Over the last two fiscal years, between state and city dollars, the school district has received an additional $11 million, $4.5 million of which were city dollars, while at the same time $12.2 million in requests were denied,” Ruais said.
Holding the line on spending increases was part of Ruais’ platform when he ran for mayor in 2023.
Ruais called the final budget “a thoughtful, balanced approach when it comes to finding the correct level of spending that meets the needs of our students and our city, while protecting taxpayers at the same time. The balance struck here is reflected in the overwhelming vote behind its passage.”
Board of Alderman Chair Joe Kelly Levasseur voted against the final budget, telling NHJournal, “I voted against the school district budget because the city roads are in terrible shape. The district received $35 million from the state less than two years ago and spent it recklessly.
“They (the school board) just bonded $20 million on portable classrooms. They have zero credibility and can’t be trusted with money! It’s time to make them a department instead of a district.”
When Ruais announced his first budget proposal, with a $2 million increase in education spending, school officials and union leaders warned of “dire consequences.” They also suggested — falsely — that Ruais had proposed a $9.5 million budget cut.
As Manchester Teachers Union president Sue Hannan said at the time, “We are not going back to the days of doing more with less. We are at the time of we do better together.”
In the end, spending rose by about $3.5 million.
A source close to the mayor’s office told NHJournal, “The school district is going to eliminate $1 million from administrative overhead and around 35 positions through attrition. This is what Republicans have been looking for.”
Asked for a comment about the city’s school budget agreement, the heads of New Hampshire’s two largest teachers unions declined to respond.
On Tuesday the Board of Mayor and Aldermen also approved 10 union contracts by voice vote and without opposition.
“The process we used to reach agreement on all 10 contracts was substantial and open. It lasted several months, and the overall process included multiple public presentations. The input we received was invaluable,” Ruais said.
“I believe we’ve created a new blueprint that will serve us well during future negotiations. These contracts are a win for city employees who will now be paid market-competitive rates, and a win for the taxpayer who will see improved service delivery with fewer vacancies at an affordable level.”
The biggest winner from the spending agreements may be Ruais, who is headed toward his first reelection bid this November with no serious opposition. Democrats have yet to even announce a candidate.
“What I’m hearing from Democrats is that they don’t really need to put up a candidate because they like Ruais,” said Levasseur. “And they know they can’t beat him.”
