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Business office warns of FY25 special‑education deficit; FY26 shortfall reduced after town appropriation
Summary
District officials reported a significant FY25 special‑education deficit, a 15% holdback on goods and services, and projected FY26 budget gap reduced from $1.3 million to $650,000 after a $650,000 appropriation by town leaders; extraordinary relief from the state is anticipated.
WALPOLE, Mass. — The district's business office told the School Committee Thursday that Walpole faces a sizable fiscal challenge in the current year driven largely by special‑education costs, and that next year's budget gap has been reduced after recent town action.
Business office staff reported a significant FY25 deficit concentrated in special education. To manage year‑end spending, the district has implemented a 15% holdback on goods and services budgets and is monitoring personnel and leave to capture possible savings. "We are monitoring all aspects of the FY '25 budget," the business official said, noting the office is working closely with the Special Education Department to track current spending and projections.
Administrators said the district expects to receive extraordinary relief funding from the state to help offset the FY25 special‑education shortfall; they noted a statewide pool of $5 million had been identified for extraordinary relief and said local allocations should be clearer by April 30.
For FY26, the district reported that a tentative settlement with the Walpole Teachers Association allowed for better personnel cost projections. The finance committee, select board and town administrator recently approved an additional $650,000 appropriation to the school budget, reducing the district's projected FY26 gap from $1.3 million to roughly $650,000. Officials said they will continue reviewing goods, services and staffing over the coming weeks and will present the budget for a Town Meeting vote on May 5.
A committee member said recent action in the state House included supplemental funding proposals — including $58 million more for the circuit breaker program statewide and $125,000 earmarked for traffic improvements around the high school — which may affect local relief amounts once the Senate acts. The business office said it would continue to update the committee as numbers become final.
