School committee asked to model 0.5%–1% reductions after town budget summit; superintendent to report back

After participants at a town budget summit signaled a desire for municipal budget reductions, the Westborough School Committee asked Superintendent Allison to prepare models showing the effects of across‑the‑board reductions on the school budget and services.

At the summit, advisory and finance groups suggested possible reductions between $650,000 and $1.3 million (roughly 1% exclusive of fixed costs). Committee members asked the superintendent to produce scenarios that translate proposed percentage reductions (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%) into concrete district actions — for example, staffing changes, program cuts, busing fees or other service reductions — and to show the corresponding impact on local tax bills so residents can weigh tradeoffs.

Allison told the committee the district had already taken steps to reduce cost where possible, including staffing adjustments tied to declining enrollment and tighter materials and supplies funding, and pledged to present precise options and their consequences at the next meeting. "If we do reduce the budget this year by that amount of money, the attempt to restore where we have been with a level services budget is a double whammy in the next year," one presenter warned, illustrating the multi‑year consequences of reductions.

Ending: The superintendent will prepare and present reduction scenarios and expected service impacts at the next committee meeting so the committee can respond to town budget deliberations.