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Freetown-Lakeville officials recommend $47.98 million FY26 budget placeholder as educators urge rejection
Summary
District finance director Jack Higgins recommended the school committee vote a $47,975,033 FY26 budget with a $400,000 school‑choice placeholder; teachers and staff during public comment urged the committee to reject the proposal at the April 9 vote, citing possible cuts to student services.
Jack Higgins, the district finance presenter, told the Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School District School Committee that administrators recommend the committee vote an FY26 budget of $47,975,033 — $400,000 higher than a $47,575,033 draft — using $400,000 from school‑choice funds as a placeholder while awaiting possible state aid.
Higgins said the budget process began in November and produced an initial level‑service proposal of $49,135,217 that included a 3% contract increase for teachers, paraprofessionals and secretaries. After meetings with town finance officials and updated salary and health‑insurance numbers, central office identified roughly $500,000 in savings; further reductions would require staff cuts tied in part to declining enrollment, Higgins said.
Higgins: "It is my recommendati…
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