SAUGUS Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 28, No.17 -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, May 1, 2026 ROAD TO EAGLE SCOUT Town Meeting 2026 The town manager increased his budget recommendation for the School Department by $1.8 million – nearly $3 million more than the current appropriation By Mark E. Vogler A SCOUT’S ENDEAVOR: Sean Lynch, a longtime member of Saugus Boy Scout Troop 62, is just a public service project away from earning his Eagle Scout badge – scouting’s highest honor. For his project, Lynch is organizing a donation drive to benefit the MSPCA Angell Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem. As part of his project to help cats and dogs at the shelter, he plans to conduct a neighborhood drive on the weekends of May 9 and 16 while placing drop boxes at several locations in town. Please see this week’s “The Sounds of Saugus” for more details. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Home of the Week Offered at $799,000 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate Formerly Carpenito Real Estate SAUGUS - Spacious family Colonial offering 11 rooms, including 4+ bedrooms and 3 full baths, located in desirable Lynnhurst area. The formal dining room features plenty of natural sunlight and opens to a nicely updated kitchen featuring plenty of cabinet space and island seating perfect for entertaining. There is also a bright and sunny living room,1st floor office/den and a full bath. 2nd level offers 4 generously sized bedrooms with hardwood flooring excellent closet space, a sitting area and an additional full bathroom. The lower level features a comfortable family room with a pellet stove, and additional room which is a 5th bedroom plus a 3rd full bath-ideal for extended living space. Additional highlights include central air, a rear deck, three season room off the back of the home and an above ground pool. 1 car garage with a loft for extra storage. This beautiful home is located at the end of a dead-end street. (781) 233-7300 335 Central St. Saugus commonmoves.com ©2024 BHH Affiliates, LLC, An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. T own Manager Scott C. Crabtree has increased his initial budget recommendation for Saugus Public Saugus Public Schools by $1.8 million for the 2027 Fiscal Year beginning July 1 – supporting the request of Schools Superintendent Michael Hashem to increase current school spending by $2.8 million. “As we work through the budget process, I’m updating my recommendation to reflect the School Department’s request while also making sure Town Meeting has clear information about the longterm impact of recurring costs,” Crabtree said in a press release this week posted on the Town of Saugus website. Earlier this year, Crabtree had recommended a million-dollar increase in the appropriation approved by Town Meeting last year, about a third of what Hashem was seeking. But just a week before the opening session of this year’s Annual Town Meeting (7:30 p.m. in the second fl oor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall), Crabtree announced his “recommended budget is changing to reflect the School Department’s full operating request – an additional $1,837,839 beyond the initial estimate, for a total recommended increase of $2,837,839 over the current year.” With 15 new members taking offi ce in the 50-member chamber – many of them strong advocates for public education – the School Department budget is expected to draw considerable discussion this year when Town Meeting considers the full town budget. The Finance Committee was expected to review the School Department budget for 2027 Fiscal Year during a hearing scheduled in the second fl oor auditorium on Wednesday night and make a recommendation to Town Meeting members. Over the past decade, the School Committee and supporters of Saugus Public Schools have sparred at Town Meeting over the issue of whether the town was spending enough on public education. The town manager has usually recommended hundreds of thousands of dollars less than what the superintendent requested. The School Committee last year gave unanimous approval TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 2 Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 4.12 4.34 5.24 $4.47 Full Service ULS $4.57 9 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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