A DOUBLY GOOD GRADUATION T TWICE AS PROUD: Following last Friday night’s graduation ceremony at Saugus High School, Maryellen Lynch walked around Christie Serino Jr. Memorial Stadium, beaming as she wore a special t-shirt to honor her twin sons – Brennan and Sean – who were among the Class of 2026 graduates. Please see inside for more photos and coverage of the school’s 155th commencement exercises. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Home of the Week Welcome Home to 12 Longwood Avenue Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate Formerly Carpenito Real Estate SAUGUS - 1st AD - 1st AD - Conveniently located 7 room Cape Cod style home featuring 4 bedrooms, living room open to dining room, 2 full baths, convenient 1st floor laundry hookup, 20 year old second floor addition offering full bath with stand-up shower, hardwood flooring, 2 bedrooms and sitting area, front enclosed sunroom, one car garage under, side street located just outside of Saugus Center. Quick access to Route I, shopping and all major highways. Offered at $549,900 (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. Town Meeting 2026 Members complete final session in just under 30 minutes, passing a budget on a unanimous vote without dissent while making a major investment to improve education By Mark E. Vogler own Moderator Stephen Doherty said he was concerned that Monday night “might be a long one” when he looked out at the audience in the Town Hall auditorium before the fourth and final session of this year’s Annual Town Meeting. A large group of advocates for Saugus Public Schools had assembled for consideration of the town budget for the 2027 Fiscal Year that begins on July 1. A major item was a huge increase of nearly $3 million in School Department spending. People were poised to speak, if necessary, to argue for more money for Saugus Public Schools. “I was concerned it was going to be a long night,” Doherty said later. “But they were here to support and celebrate the actions they had achieved,” he said. Doherty was referring to the public campaign involving parents, schoolteachers and a group of new Town Meeting members to increase educational spending this year. Their efforts succeeded, as Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree in Congratulations Class of 2026 Graduates! Mid-grade Regular 3.98 4.45 4.95 $4.57 Full Service ULS $3.959 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! Established 1978 late April announced his decision to increase his initial budget recommendation for Saugus Public Schools by $1.8 million. He decided to support the request of Schools Superintendent Michael Hashem to increase current school spending by $2.8 million. The Finance Committee voted to recommend the full amount. The town’s Fiscal 2027 operating budget of $126.4 million – including $37.6 million for the School Department – passed by a unanimous 47-0 roll call vote on Monday night in less than a half hour, and without dissent. Nobody from the audience or from the 50-member legislative chamber spoke for or against any item in the budget. The audience erupted in applause after the budget was approved, with Town Meeting members who lobbied for an increase in school spending and pro-education advocates congratulated each other. “I’ve been doing this for 14 years now and I don’t remember a budget passing as quickly,” Doherty told The Saugus TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 2 FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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