Budget approval process
From School Committee certification through the override ballot — every step, every decision point, and where Mendon stands based on today's date (Eastern time).
Where Mendon is right now
Town Election — date passed
The Town Election was scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Confirm official results, ballot wording, and any follow-up votes on the Town Clerk postings and the Documents page.
If the override did not pass, the School Committee has statutory follow-up paths (Step 4 below). See Vote Info for registration and polling reference.
Key terms
Two types of certified budgets
The process branches depending on how the School Committee certifies its budget.
Level Funded
A budget at or near the standard increase — roughly half of new revenues. Even though towns contribute more, it is less than the decline in Chapter 70 state aid, yielding about $600,000 less for the school. Can be funded without an override.
Greater than Level Funded
Any certification that exceeds the level-funded threshold. Triggers the full approval sequence — Town Meetings, potential override vote, and fallback options if that vote fails. This is the path Mendon is on for FY27.
School Committee certifies a budget
The School Committee certifies its budget request and sends it to both Mendon and Upton. For FY27 the Committee certified a budget greater than Level Funded, triggering the full approval path below.
Both towns can cover the budget inside their Prop 2½ levy limits. No override needed — process ends here.
The requested amount exceeds what the towns can cover. Proceeds to Town Meeting in each town for a vote.
Annual Town Meeting
Mendon held its Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Check the posted warrant for the exact action taken on the budget article and how the override question was placed on the ballot.
Town Meeting approves the full budget with no conditions. Process ends for Mendon — no override needed.
Budget approved contingent on the override passing. Moves directly to the override ballot.
Town Meeting votes no. Override vote is still triggered by statute — same end result as conditional.
Override ballot — Town Election
The Town Election was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Confirm results and next steps on the Town Clerk postings.
The levy increase is authorized permanently. Budget is fully funded for FY27 and the new baseline carries forward. Process ends here.
→ Numbers page for the dollar figures · Vote Info for polling details
The levy increase is rejected. The School Committee must act within 30 days. Mendon proceeds to Step 4.
→ Tradeoffs page for service-level impacts of a failed override
School Committee must act within 30 days
If the override fails, the School Committee has three statutory paths. Each ends with the budget either trimmed to fit the levy or another attempt to authorize additional revenue.
Recertify at Level Funded
School Committee revises the budget down to a level-funded request. District-wide cuts are made to fit within the levy. No further override — process ends here at a reduced service level.
→ Tradeoffs for what level-funded cuts mean for programs and staffing
Call a Joint Town Meeting (JTM)
School Committee convenes both Mendon and Upton together. If the JTM passes, the budget is approved and an override may be attempted. If the JTM fails, the School Committee returns to its certification options.
Recertify above Level Funded again
School Committee recertifies at a higher amount. The Select Board must decide within 45 days whether to call another Town Meeting. If no Town Meeting is called, the budget is approved by default at the levy limit — and town departments absorb the gap.
Source
About this process diagram
This page describes the statutory framework governing how the Mendon-Upton Regional School District budget is certified, reviewed, and approved under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71 and Proposition 2½ (M.G.L. c. 59, § 21C).
For authoritative warrant language and budget documents, see the Documents page or visit mendonma.gov.