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Auburn School Committee trims FY26 draft, approves $25 bus fee and $100 student parking pass
Summary
The Auburn School Committee revised its FY26 draft budget and voted to raise student transportation fees by $25 and institute a $100 annual high‑school parking pass as part of measures to lower the district budget increase to roughly 4.3 percent.
The Auburn School Committee on Feb. 5 moved to reduce the district's FY26 proposed increase by packaging one-time offsets and new local fees while keeping staffing placeholders to adjust to final enrollment.
Superintendent (unnamed) said Auburn remains a "hold harmless" district for Chapter 70 funding, receiving roughly $75 per pupil based on about 2,400 students, an increase she said would total about $180,000 and is effectively near level funding. She reported a recent Elementary and English Learner (EL) reimbursement payment of $235,792.72 covering the start of the school year through December and said the district proposes using part of that reimbursement to offset transportation costs for this year and next.
Why it matters: The town requested a lower FY26 increase than the district's earlier 5.7 percent draft; the committee discussed trimming the budget, identifying offsets and modest new revenue sources rather than seeking an override.
The committee approved three related budget actions after discussion:
- Increase regular-education transportation offset to $400,000 using local ("L") money, approved by voice vote.
- Set a $25 increase to the per‑student bus fee (the district's current fee structure dated to 2007) and adopt a $100 annual student parking pass for Auburn High School; the motion passed by voice vote. Committee members discussed phased increases and cited concerns about cumulative costs for families.
- Approve placeholders for staffing reductions: one provisional position each at Auburn High School, Auburn Middle School, Swanson Road Intermediate School and a fourth position to be determined between Bryn Mawr and Packachaug (dependent on kindergarten enrollment); the motion passed by voice vote.
Supporting details provided during discussion: AA Transportation was the only bidder for next year's bus contract and the preliminary review of that bid reduced the transportation line by $23,262. The superintendent presented additional one-time offsets including a $65,000 credit from the Southern Worcester County Educational Collaborative to prepay special-education tuition next year. She said the FY26 draft in the committee packet accounted for the $400,000 transportation offset, the $65,000 collaborative credit and four staffing placeholders, which brought a working draft to about 4.3 percent.
Estimates of revenue from the proposed fees were included in the packet. The district reported $96,929 collected in 2024-25 under the current transportation fee schedule; sample projections showed the $25 increase would raise annual transportation fee receipts toward roughly $118,600 (figures in packet are estimates based on current payers). There are currently 37 parking passes in use; the superintendent presented $25, $50 and $100 fee scenarios for discussion and the committee chose $100.
What stays unresolved: The superintendent said EL reimbursement for December to June remained pending in the state supplemental budget and could further change the FY26 picture if enacted. She also said the town has indicated it will not access excess levy capacity or seek an override at this time.
Votes at a glance: Minutes of Jan. 22 approved earlier in the meeting; later motions approved include the transportation offset ($400,000 using L money), bus fee increase ($25) and a $100 annual student parking pass, and approval of staffing placeholders. Precise roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript posted to the packet; motions were adopted by voice vote."
