The Concord Schools Board has approved a preliminary budget of $123.8 million, a decrease of about $700,000 from FY26, with local property taxes increasing by $1.78 per $1,000 assessed value and the statewide property tax (SWEPT) increasing by about 11 cents. The district’s debt contribution is rising, and out-of-district transportation costs are also rising. The state increased $86 per student in FY26 but this has led to a preliminary grant loss of $3.28 million. The bulk of this loss is in the “extraordinary grant” and “fiscal capacity disparity aid” categories of state aid, which are given to districts with students who receive free and reduced lunch. The board has approved $6.8 billion in non-personnel reductions, including new smart boards, gym equipment, musical instruments, furniture, and other small items. The school is also considering selling the Liberty Street building to a developer to reduce the cost of the $90.8-million middle school project. The cost of this project is approaching $280 million due to higher-than-expected interest rates and delays in principal payments and trust fund transfers in the early years of the project.