Freetown‑Lakeville officials present FY26 budget; district could cut 14–16 positions, ask towns to hold $400,000 placeholder

Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School District business manager Jack Higgins presented the district’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the Town of Lakeville Finance Committee on March 17, laying out revised totals, multiple funding scenarios and a possible reduction of 14 to 16 staff positions tied largely to lower enrollment and uncertain state and federal funding.

Higgins told members the district began FY26 planning from a FY25 base of $46,550,959. An initial FY26 proposal presented in February totaled $49,135,217 (about a 5.5% increase), but subsequent adjustments and identified savings brought a revised draft to roughly $47.575 million (about a 2.2% increase from FY25). Higgins said the school committee is considering an interim “placeholder” use of $400,000 from school‑choice funds between the committee vote and town meetings while awaiting potential state aid; using that placeholder would raise the working budget to about $47 million and represent roughly a 3.1% increase, he said.

Why it matters: Higgins warned that revenue uncertainty — including possible changes to federal IDEA and other grant funding, the pace of Chapter 70 and millionaire‑surtax distributions, and the outcome of ongoing contract negotiations with staff — could force the district to cut positions or reduce services. He and committee members discussed potential impacts on special education services, classroom sizes and programs added with one‑time funding.

Key figures and proposals

- FY25 adopted budget: $46,550,959 (Higgins). - Initial FY26 proposal (Feb presentation): $49,135,217 (≈5.5% increase). - Revised FY26 draft sent to towns / administrators: $47,575,033 (≈2.2% increase). - Placeholder proposed from school‑choice…