School committee previews FY26 budget: $44.6 million bottom line, capital requests include auditorium lighting and Wi‑Fi upgrades

The Holliston School Committee’s budget subcommittee on March 13 said it will recommend a FY26 operational budget request of $44,583,832, a $1.6 million increase over FY25 (about 3.75%). The committee said it remains committed to meeting the spending commitments made during last fall’s tax override while working through several moving pieces and outstanding state revenue figures.

“Specifically, our final recommendation will be presented on 3/27 with all the details, and we’ll vote at that time,” the budget subcommittee said during its presentation. The subcommittee reported new information since Superintendent Dr. Kuskka’s earlier budget presentation and listed major cost drivers including contractual employee costs, district transportation tied to new start times, special‑education transportation increases, custodial services, technology subscriptions, utilities and athletics.

The subcommittee noted changes from earlier projections: a smaller than expected decline in special‑education costs (a current decrease of $9,000 versus an earlier projected decline of $700,000 once prior one‑time town support is netted), and an estimated net special‑education tuition reduction of $884,000 elsewhere in the budget. The committee flagged a potential risk tied to Norfolk Aggie enrollments; the district budgeted for four new enrollments but had nine applicants, and each additional student would cost roughly $30,000.

Capital requests supported by the subcommittee total about $1,029,000 and include $75,000 for Wi‑Fi equipment upgrades at both middle and high schools (the federal Category 2 E‑rate funding will likely rebate about 40 percent, lowering net cost), $99,000 for auditorium lighting at the high school, $75,000 for exterior door replacements, $30,000 in additional high‑school supplies tied to implementing schedule changes, and roughly $750,000 to finish a two‑thirds roof replacement at the Rams building (doing the full remaining work at once reduces costs by about $100,000 versus splitting the project).

Transportation was highlighted as an operational pressure. The committee said it had an estimate from the district’s bus provider that currently sits below the earlier projections but noted additional needs such as smaller buses could raise costs. The committee also discussed circuit breaker (special‑education) reimbursements and said the district had been applying prior year circuit breaker receipts to current needs and would begin using the most recently received amounts in the next fiscal year.

Members emphasized they are working to avoid layoffs and to use attrition and reassignment where possible: “The expectation is that it will not result in any job eliminations,” a school committee member said, while acknowledging the staffing picture depends on retirements, enrollment bubbles and upcoming negotiation outcomes.

The detailed budget recommendation and final TBD items will return to the committee on March 27 for a vote.