The Westborough Public Schools business office presented a year-to-date budget snapshot through Jan. 3 showing payroll expenditures at 38% of budget and a projected overrun in the special-education transportation line.

Anita of the business office told the School Committee that "our payroll budget has been expended 38%" through Jan. 3 and explained that fourth-quarter payroll is heavier because of stipends and lump-sum payments. The office noted that roughly 80% of staff compensation occurs as lump-sum payouts that drive the Q4 increase.

Nut graf: The business office said overall spending is on a sustainable path, but transportation costs for special education are trending above budget; a $258,000 grant carried forward from FY24 will be transferred into the transportation account to offset projected overages.

The report said the carried-over FY24 grant of $258,000 will be transferred into the general fund transportation line to help cover increased costs. Officials said that, with that transfer, they expect to close the year at or under budget. Committee members asked for further detail on particular building-level encumbrances.

One item discussed was a projected deficit at Armstrong School tied to copy/print charges. Anita described the deficit as primarily driven by click charges for photocopying and said staff at the school have been notified to control spending so the encumbrance can be reduced by the next quarterly update.

Committee members reminded the administration that Massachusetts municipalities are required to balance budgets and cannot run ongoing deficits; the business office reiterated the district's goal of ending the year at or under budget.

Ending: The committee accepted the update and asked for follow-up information about attendance-driven payroll patterns and building-level cost management at Armstrong ahead of the next quarterly report.