Uxbridge finance committee presses schools for revolving‑account details, delays education recommendation

During the joint Finance Committee and Select Board meeting April 16, committee members pressed the school administration on the district’s use of revolving accounts to subsidize operations. Members said they had requested detailed ledgers and projections for all revolving accounts but had not received the documentation promised at a prior meeting. Committee members characterized the omission as a material information gap and expressed concern that borrowing on or using one‑time revolving balances could leave the district exposed in FY27 if the funds are not sustainable.

In the discussion, a committee member described the situation as presenting “red flags,” noting that approximately 14% (committee’s working figure) of school operating costs in the proposed FY26 budget were being offset by revolving funds and that some individual revolving uses (for example, a $225,000 daycare account) appeared unusually large relative to historical appropriations. Members requested itemized, current balances and projected year‑end balances for each revolving account, along with revenue projections for next year, and asked the schools to provide those numbers by April 30. The committee agreed to pass over the town education recommendation and to reconvene for a short meeting prior to Town Meeting once the requested materials are received.

The committee said it is not rejecting the schools’ request but seeking transparency and verification before formally recommending a town contribution; the suggestion was to hold a public meeting the week before Town Meeting to review the documentation once received.