Superintendent seeks $2.1M increase in FY27 'level‑service plus' budget; tuitions and salaries drive costs
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Summary
The superintendent presented a FY27 level‑service plus budget asking roughly $2.1 million (5.97%) more than FY26 before offsets; primary drivers are salary increases (~$1.6M), rising out‑of‑district tuition/transportation (about $4.2M tuition line for ~35 students) and technology replacement ($260K). The committee discussed phasing technology purchases and potential additions in a 'gold' package.
The Wareham superintendent presented the FY27 'level service plus' budget at the Nov. 20 school committee meeting, saying the proposal reflects continuing programs plus a small set of staffing changes.
Key figures the superintendent reported include a proposed $2,100,000 increase over the current fiscal year — about 5.97% — before offsets. The administration expects roughly $3.5 million in offsets (Circuit Breaker, Title grants, IDEA), bringing the proposed net figure to about $38,244,686. The superintendent said salary increases account for approximately $1.6 million of the increase, technology replacement was estimated at $260,000, and out‑of‑district tuition and related transportation are rising sharply.
On out‑of‑district placements, the presentation listed roughly 35 students in private and collaborative placements with tuition costs in the multi‑million range (the presenters noted total tuitions near $4.2 million), which also increases transportation costs.
The superintendent described a 'level service gold' package the district could pursue if resources allow; it would add targeted staff such as a halftime ELL teacher, elementary social worker, interventionists and paraprofessionals, at an additional roughly $709,000. Committee members noted benefit costs for added positions and discussed phasing technology purchases (teacher Chromebooks vs. laptops) to spread capital costs.
The committee will hold the public budget hearing (and the vote on the budget request) at the regular schedule set by the town; administrators invited committee members to review the full budget presentation recorded by WCTV and to meet with finance subcommittee members before the hearing.