Peabody City Council Approves $217 Million FY27 Operating Budget 9-2

PEABODY — June 23, 2026 — Peabody City Council approves $217 million FY27 budget and $102 million school spending plan on split votes. The council voted 9-2 on June 23 to adopt the fiscal year 2027 operating budget of $216,996,238.17, capping a three-meeting Finance Committee review that reduced the mayor's original proposal by $114,212.83 in direct cuts plus $244,988 from a revised non-union compensation ordinance providing 0 percent for FY26 and 2 percent for FY27. The school budget of $101,967,320 — a 2.9 percent increase over FY26 — passed 9-1 before reconsideration and 9-2 on the reconsidered vote, with Councilor Manny Martin dissenting. Superintendent Victor Vidala's presentation was overshadowed by a sharp exchange with Councilor Joseph Turco over grant-funded positions not appearing in the appropriated budget document; Turco called the practice a recurring transparency failure, while Vidala said "a lack of understanding is not a lack of transparency." Vidala announced that the district has engaged the Collins Center to conduct an independent administrative structure review, with a report expected in October. The Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School assessment of $8,182,119 — an 18 percent increase — passed unanimously.