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Committee reviews revolving‑fund revenues and fees; transportation and athletics cover smaller shares of costs
Summary
Finance staff presented a review of revolving funds and fee structures, showing that fees such as transportation and athletics now cover a smaller share of corresponding costs than when the fees were last set; staff prompted further conversations on preschool, athletic, and school‑choice fees.
Emma Pugliese, Beverly Public Schools' business administrator, presented an overview of the district's revolving funds and fee structure at the March 26 meeting, noting fees have not changed materially in many years and now cover a smaller percentage of program costs.
Pugliese showed that transportation fees — last set in 2013 — would have covered about 28.3 percent of related general‑education transportation expenditures in 2013 but are now budgeted to cover roughly 15.9 percent of those costs. "Revenues have remained largely consistent and flat. We have seen a growth in our expenses," she said.
The presentation reviewed preschool tuition (peer tuition only; special‑education preschool placements are not charged), athletic fees (district charges per sport and lacks a family cap), and school‑choice tuition revenue. Pugliese said Beverly's school‑choice in‑tuition is recorded in the district budget while the city pays tuition for students who leave the district under school choice out; the district's choice revenue can fluctuate with midyear moves and prorated tuition.
Pugliese also surveyed neighboring districts' fee practices and listed possible additional revenue options other districts use, including elementary instrumental music fees, non‑athletic user fees, and technology insurance for take‑home devices. She said the committee had already approved a 5 percent increase in building rental fees at a prior meeting, and the committee later approved several small policy changes on buildings and grounds at the same session.
Committee members asked staff to continue refining expense projections — especially for utilities — and to return with more information on solar credit allocation and fee policy options as the FY26 budget is developed.
