Opens in a new tab

2027 School Budget

At a Glance
Closed
Citywide
Education

Latest

With the school district’s FY2027 budget approved by the City Council and under the tax cap, this item is closed.

The City of Dover will establish the school system’s budget for the 2027 fiscal year through a series of meetings and workshops. Dover’s 2027 fiscal year begins on July 1, 2026 and ends on June 30, 2027.

Why it Matters

Over half of Dover’s taxpayer dollars serving education, and the statewide average is over 60%. The percentage doesn’t necessarily indicate performance; smaller municipalities typically have less infrastructure to support. It does, however, show how much education costs New Hampshire municipalities in terms of our overall property tax burden.

The Big Picture

  • Dover’s average cost per pupil is $3,385 below the state average according to the NH Department of Education.
  • Dover benefits from some economies of scale. The city ranks 152nd out of 162 reporting schools for annual cost per pupil — our lower ranking indicates lower spending. This does not mean that Dover is investing too little in education. Rather, it means that Dover residents receive strong value on a per-pupil basis.
  • New Hampshire ranks 50th of 50 states — dead last — in state education funding.
  • Cuts to state revenue have led to reduced funding for Dover and other municipalities across New Hampshire.
  • Dover relies solely on property taxes to fund education. When the state cuts revenue, property taxes must cover the shortfall. This is a real problem, since person’s property value has nothing to do with their ability to generate income.

Take Action

The School Board meets monthly, generally on the second Monday or the month. I encourage residents to attend and share their thoughts during the citizen’s forum. Separately, I encourage everyone to contact your state representatives regarding education aid. New Hampshire currently ranks last in the nation for state-level education funding, a trend that continues to shift the financial burden directly onto Dover property owners.

Go Deeper

The condition of New Hampshire’s funding for public education is well covered by the press. The state has a constitutional obligation to fund public education. The courts have found New Hampshire to be in breach of this constitutional obligation. New Hampshire legislators swore an oath to uphold the constitution. They are refusing to do so, in violation of their constitutional oath.