Nantucket School Committee finance staff reported on Feb. 4 that overall expenses are up by $1,825,000 for the year and the district's school-lunch program is running a material deficit.

"Expenses overall have increased by $1,825,000 this year, mostly due to contractual obligations over $1,500,000," the finance presenter said during the second-quarter budget update. Payroll expenditures were reported at 38% expended for the fiscal year-to-date, compared with 36% at the same point last year. The presenter said the district has 51% of its total budget expended to date, similar to last year.

On the community-school side, revenues increased by $23,000; the town appropriation was reported unchanged at $600,000. The presenter said community-school medical-insurance costs this year will total about $305,000 and that those costs are paid from the community-school budget rather than the district's Article 8 medical-insurance bucket.

The school lunch program was reported to be operating at about a $55,000 deficit, an improvement from approximately $93,000 at the same point last year. The presenter provided participation and reimbursement figures: 55,628 lunches and 13,476 breakfasts served year-to-date; federal/state reimbursement rates cited were $4.48 per lunch and $2.37 per breakfast. "These reimbursements barely can cover the costs of the lunches and breakfasts that are being served," the presenter said.

Why it matters: The district is managing increased contractual and curriculum-related costs while the lunch program subsidy continues to grow. The presenter said he anticipates the lunch subsidy for the full year will surpass $150,000.

Energy and other costs: The presenter said oil and electricity expenses are "pretty flat this year" but noted the high school oil budget was adjusted for FY26 because last year it exceeded budget.

Questions and next steps: Committee members did not pose substantive questions during the update; staff said they are monitoring the increases and have adjusted next year's budget to account for projected increases.

Ending: The committee accepted the update; no budget votes were taken Feb. 4 beyond routine transfers and donations (see "Votes at a glance").