Uxbridge consultants present multi‑year school budget plan; finance committee backs FY2026 budget

Consultants from Open Architects presented a multiyear financial projection for Uxbridge Public Schools at a joint meeting of the Town of Uxbridge finance committee and select board, and the finance committee moved to recommend favorable action on the district’s FY2026 budget of $28,547,376.

The consultants said the district is relying more heavily than usual on revolving accounts and several grants in FY2026 to minimize layoffs and preserve services. They walked committee members through an interactive workbook of assumptions and out‑year projections, and described the FY26 plan as a “level service” budget that does not add new programs.

The presentation aimed to give the town and school leaders a single model to test scenarios and to show where budget pressure occurs in 2027–2029. Consultant TJ Glenn told the committee, “I would say at this point, you are, in a healthy position in terms of FY ’25,” and described a set of standard levers — turnover savings, targeted cuts to nonpersonnel accounts and strategic use of grants such as IDEA and circuit breaker — that the team would use to close future gaps. Jennifer Bisher, also a consultant on the project, said, “This is a level service budget. So this does not include any additions to it.”

Superintendent Karen Dwyer said she hired the consultants to provide a comprehensive analysis and that the district will continue to update assumptions with the town finance staff. When asked about the cost of the analysis, she said, “Sure. It’s $9,000.”

Why it matters: The consultants showed that the district’s FY2026 plan offsets portions of the all‑funds budget with grant and revolving‑account revenues and that the district expects higher one‑time and recurring pressures in later years if those offsets are not available. Committee members pressed for better input data — especially health‑insurance inflation and precise grant carryover amounts — before the consultants finalize projections.

Key details from the presentation and discussion included: the district’s use of revolving accounts such as extended‑day/daycare (an expected June 30 balance shown in the workbook as $305,750), more reliance than usual on school choice and circuit breaker revenue this year, and an explicit conservative treatment of some grant lines because state and federal funding levels remain uncertain. The consultants said many entitlement grants (IDEA, Title I/II/IV) are typically available year to year, but the town and schools should plan conservatively and update the model as final state figures arrive.

Committee members and select board members asked that consultants and school leadership verify assumptions with the town manager and finance director so the model reflects municipal accounting categories (health insurance, collective‑bargaining assumptions and town services charged to schools). The consultants said the workbook can be adjusted to test scenarios such as a higher insurance increase or different turnover savings.

Action: The finance committee voted to recommend favorable action on the FY2026 Uxbridge Public Schools budget of $28,547,376; the select board moved and seconded a matching recommendation at the meeting and voice votes were recorded in favor.

Next steps: Consultants and district staff will follow up with the town manager and finance director to reconcile inputs (including health insurance and schedule 19 town service charges) and to update the interactive workbook. Committee members requested a PDF of the revolving‑fund workbook and a reviewed set of assumptions before final town meeting action.