Harwich Finance Committee Hears School Budget Requests Exceeding Town's Planning Number

HARWICH — February 19, 2026 — Harwich Finance Committee hears school budget presentations projecting a nearly $1 million gap against the town's spending plan. Monomoy Regional School District Superintendent Scott Carpenter presented a proposed FY27 budget carrying a 6 percent increase, which translates to a 7.67 percent assessment increase for Harwich — roughly $980,000 above the 4.7 percent placeholder that Town Administrator Tony had built into the town's budget framework, a gap Carpenter called the largest in the district's 13-year history. Cape Cod Technical Regional High School Superintendent Bob Sandborn presented a $19.3 million budget, a 4.51 percent increase, resulting in a combined Harwich assessment of $1,828,391, slightly down from FY26 due to a 10-student enrollment decline. Sandborn also disclosed that Cape Tech will hold its first-ever admissions lottery on February 27, with 471 students competing for 190 seats; Harwich is guaranteed 19 freshman slots. The Finance Committee is scheduled to receive the full town budget presentation the following Thursday.