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Scituate schools report FY25 closed 'in the black'; administration warns FY26 will be tight
Summary
The district reported it closed FY25 with a small surplus and detailed line‑item shifts that left the bottom line positive; administration said FY26 will be a tighter budget year and noted energy contracts are locked through 2029–2030 for planning certainty.
At the Aug. 25 meeting Dr. Rabe presented the FY25 budget closeout memo and told the committee the district ended the year in the black. He noted line‑item variances such as additional spending in student services (largely transportation) and upfront technology purchases that were managed within overall appropriations.
Dr. Rabe relayed a surplus number as stated in the meeting materials; the meeting transcript records the figure as "$483.33." Committee discussion indicated that circuit‑breaker and IDEA reimbursements and encumbrances also affected year‑end balances. Administration said the district had locked electricity and natural gas rates through 2029–2030, giving the district a degree of budget certainty for energy costs.
Multiple committee members asked whether certain one‑time or ongoing capital needs (for example, Jenkins windows and high‑school air conditioning/floor priorities) should be reprioritized given a tighter FY26 forecast. Dr. Rabe said FY26 will be a tighter year and that a financial forecast update is scheduled for the coming Thursday.
Next steps: administration will present the financial forecast and follow up with more detailed stabilization fund and circuit‑breaker accounting at an upcoming session. The committee did not take a vote on budget adjustments at this meeting.
