Westborough leaders outline budget pressures, potential program cuts and preparations for Town Meeting

Superintendent Lisonbee and district staff presented a mid‑year strategic plan update and a budget overview as the Westborough School Committee prepared for the upcoming Town Meeting.

Allison (staff member) walked the committee through five strategic focus areas and a working budget slide deck that the district intends to share publicly. The district’s operating budget for the coming fiscal year was described as $70,466,789 after a reduction process; the net increase presented to the committee at the end of the process was 5.18 percent. Allison said a tiered reduction process produced a first‑tier reduction (about $548,000) and that an all‑in reduction through tier 2 would total about $871,000; the committee ultimately presented the $548,000 tier 1 package and a net 5.18% increase.

Staff emphasized three long‑running cost drivers: salaries (about 80 percent of the budget), rising out‑of‑district special‑education tuition and sharply higher transportation costs. Allison said out‑of‑district tuition for collaborative programs commonly runs “around $75,000 and up” per student per…