Freetown‑Lakeville committee hears FY27 budget and three E&D scenarios; E&D to be considered Feb. 25

The Freetown‑Lakeville Regional School Committee received an FY27 budget presentation Feb. 4 that recommended a total budget of $53,619,217, and staff outlined three options using excess & deficiency (E&D) funds to reduce town assessments.

Director of finance Jack Higgins told the committee the recommended total was $53,619,217 (including federal grants) and that the general fund budget is $49,842,654, an increase over the prior year. Higgins said Chapter 70 aid rose only slightly — "from last year's Chapter 70, which was at 12,333,000 and change" to "12,528,000" — leaving towns to shoulder a larger share of school costs.

Staff presented three alternatives for drawing on E&D. Option A focused on one‑time, physical purchases (network switches, camera replacements, docking stations, some textbook and PE equipment purchases and phase 2 of a fire suppression project) totaling roughly $905,002. Option A+ adds a three‑year Barracuda backup subscription (an additional $25,000 to cover three years) bringing the total to about $930,184. Option A++ would add one‑year curriculum, administration and technology subscriptions, increasing the E&D draw to about $1,266,010; staff warned the A++ subscriptions would reappear in future budgets if not negotiated as multiyear contracts.

Committee members debated timing, with several members urging caution until final Chapter 70 and health‑insurance numbers are available. One member said waiting would avoid "boxing us into Option A" if state numbers shift, and others expressed concern about creating recurring obligations from E&D. The committee agreed to place the E&D choice on the Feb. 25 meeting agenda (the district's public budget hearing) so members can vote with updated figures.

Administrators said additional budget materials — including slides, town assessment details, and a slide with "talk points" for communicating with state legislators about Chapter 70 — will be posted on the district website and that staff will return with updated numbers before any vote.

Next steps: the committee will review final Chapter 70 and insurance figures, consider multiyear subscription pricing where possible, and may vote on the E&D option at its Feb. 25 public hearing.