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Duxbury school officials report FY25 year‑end budget nearly balanced, flag $2.4M out‑of‑district transportation overrun
Summary
The district closed FY25 with a $38,406 unexpended balance on a $43.25 million operating budget but reported substantial overages in out‑of‑district special education transportation, which district staff said exceeded budget by roughly $2.42 million even after a $250,000 reserve transfer.
The Duxbury School Committee reviewed the district's FY25 year‑end financial report and heard staff explain where the district spent and carried forward funds.
Elise (presenting the finance report) said the district's FY25 operating budget was $43,250,348 and that the district expended or encumbered 99.91% of that appropriation, leaving a turnback balance of $38,406 to be returned to the town. She said salary lines were underspent (97.7% expended) largely because of unfilled positions and leaves; unused salary funds offset overages in goods and services during the year.
The district reported about $7.2 million expended in goods and services and a carry‑forward of purchase orders of about $776,000. Grant receipts exceeded $1,000,000 in new awards and circuit breaker reimbursement for special education was reported at about $1.1 million (to be expended in FY26). Overall revenue offsets realized were slightly over $4.0 million.
Finance staff called particular attention to a large overage in the “other student services/transportation” function tied to out‑of‑district special education transportation. Committee discussion and presentation materials indicated a net overage of roughly $2.42 million even after the committee and select board approved a $250,000 transfer from the special education reserve fund to offset costs. The finance presenter described that overage as “over and above” the reserve offset and said it did not necessarily recur in the next year but reflected a high‑cost year for contracted out‑of‑district placements and transportation.
Committee members asked for further clarification of several line items (for example, an instructional software negative balance reflecting reallocation between district and school accounts) and discussed decreased athletics fee revenue, the timing of transportation receipts, and capital projects completed in FY25.
The committee voted to approve the consent agenda (minutes and accounts payable warrants) earlier in the meeting. No additional appropriation votes were taken at the meeting; the finance report was informational and committee members asked for quarterly follow‑up and clarification in upcoming reports.
