Methuen,MA: District deficit "largely due to cost overruns in SPED spending during fiscal yr 2018"

July 9, 2018, North Andover (MA) Eagle Tribune: In the know: What exactly is going on with Methuen's budget? http://www.eagletribune.com/news/in-the-know-what-exactly-is-going-on-with-methuen/article_03a71bb4-8390-11e8-85e7-eb84814a744b.html Methuen, MA: Discussions early this week will focus on the need to pass a home rule petition seeking state permission for Methuen to borrow upward of $10 million to pay off a school budget deficit. The City Council and School Committee will hold a joint meeting on the matter at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The school department has a nearly $4 million debt, which officials say is largely due to cost overruns in special education spending during fiscal year 2018. Municipalities cannot deficit spend for anything other than snow and ice removal, meaning Methuen will have to borrow – in the form of bonds or notes – to pay off the debt.