Milton projects roughly $1.09 million FY25 shortfall; district to use $700,000 stabilization allocation while awaiting state circuit‑breaker funds

At a finance subcommittee meeting of the Milton School Committee, district finance staff reported a projected operating shortfall for fiscal year 2025 of about $1,089,000 and said the district will rely in part on a $700,000 allocation to its stabilization fund while awaiting state special‑education transportation reimbursement known as the circuit‑breaker payment.

The update came as finance staff and committee members described ongoing work to identify and memorialize outstanding encumbrances so the district can close the fiscal year without a deficit. Finance staff described tracking changes since the March quarterly report and said the additional need was variously described during the meeting as $300,000 and as $389,000; combined with the earlier figures those numbers produce the roughly $1,089,000 shortfall projection that staff used in planning.

Why it matters: Massachusetts school districts cannot close a fiscal year in deficit, and the timing of supplemental state payments affects whether Milton must make interim operational decisions. School officials said the…