The budget and finance subcommittee of the Springfield Public Schools recommended that the full school committee approve an amended FY2026 budget after district officials said the governor vetoed a line item for charter‑tuition reimbursement, leaving the district with a projected $2,460,000 shortfall.

Superintendent said the district had approved a FY2026 budget in May based on the governor’s proposed budget. Chief of Finance Pat Roche told the subcommittee the state’s final budget differed from the projections the district used and that the governor vetoed additional charter‑tuition reimbursement revenue that Springfield had expected. Roche described the vote as an “annual cleanup” to align the district budget with final city and state actions and said the district is tracking the projected deficit and has a plan to resolve it if the state does not provide supplemental funding.

Board members questioned whether the shortfall reflected higher charter enrollment or simply the vetoed reimbursement. Roche said the underfunding stems from the veto rather than a sudden enrollment increase; superintendent and members also discussed district efforts to retain and recruit students, noting a past figure of roughly 5,000 students who had left the district and suggesting increased marketing and family outreach as part of the response.

A motion to recommend the FY2026 amended budget was made and carried at the subcommittee stage. Roll call recorded Miss Hurst as present/yes, Miss Gresham absent, and Miss Marrone Naylor yes; the chair declared there were sufficient votes. The recommendation moves to the full school committee for final action.

The district said it will continue to monitor charter‑tuition expenses and will return to the committee with implementation details and any adjustments needed based on state actions or evolving revenues.