Uxbridge reports near‑complete FY25 spending, highlights $11.2M circuit‑breaker balance

The Uxbridge School Committee on Oct. 21 heard a fiscal year 2025 closeout report showing the district expended virtually its entire general fund allocation while maintaining restricted grant and revolving fund balances.

Mr. Youngberg, the administrator who presented the report, said the district achieved a 99.96% budget execution rate for the general fund, noting expenditures of $27,617,622 against a budget allocation of just over $27,600,000 with $11,176 in outstanding purchase orders and an operating fund balance of about $130. "This demonstrates careful fiscal management," Youngberg said.

The presentation also detailed grant activity: the district managed 30 grant programs in FY25 that generated $2,594,349 in revenue and $2,503,780 in expenditures, leaving a grant fund balance of $90,569 that staff said is restricted for specific program uses and, in some cases, is multiyear.

Finance staff described the district's revolving accounts as self‑supporting programs (cafeteria, athletics, preschool/day care, school choice) that produced roughly $7.88 million in receipts and $4.59 million in expenses in FY25, leaving a combined revolving balance the presentation listed at about $3.3 million. Youngberg cautioned that much of those balances are tied to specific program purposes and are not general surplus.

A major focus of the briefing was the state "circuit breaker" special‑education reimbursement. Finance staff explained the state threshold — approximately four times the foundation budget per pupil (discussed around $51,000–$52,000 during the meeting) — and said the state reimburses 75% of costs above that threshold when eligible. The district reported an FY25 circuit‑breaker offset budget of $2,055,084 and said the filing and supplemental payments produced a reported circuit‑breaker balance in the presentation of about $11,222,517; staff clarified parts of that total are encumbered to cover ongoing general‑fund costs.

Staff repeatedly warned committee members that circuit‑breaker reimbursements are subject to timing lags and annual variability. "There's about anywhere from a 12 to 18 month lag between when we spend the money and when we receive reimbursement," Youngberg said, describing the multi‑step process of claim submission and quarterly payments.

Committee members pressed staff on spend‑down rules for the school lunch revolving account and other restricted funds; Youngberg and Leah Secour, introduced as the district's director of finance and operations, explained allowable uses (program‑related equipment and supplies, not general operating costs) and said the district is actively planning to reduce higher‑than‑desired balances to avoid audit findings.

The report also described one‑time FY25 revenue and the district's overall combined fund position: about $38.1 million in total revenue across funds, $34.7 million in expenditures, and an aggregate year‑end balance across all funds of roughly $3,388,099. Youngberg said the closeout reflects careful stewardship amid turnover and a transition to a new accounting platform (Munis).

What happens next: staff said they will finish closeout requirements, submit FY26 grant applications and carryovers where allowed, and return to the committee with maintenance‑of‑effort and budget‑planning details as the FY27 season approaches.