Chariho committee approves FY27 budget to begin committee review, citing 4.99% after state aid
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Summary
The Chariho Regional School Committee approved the preliminary FY27 budget to begin the committee review process. Superintendent presented a 4.75% pre‑aid increase and 4.99% after preliminary state aid; members flagged possible cuts and asked for additional reconciliation with town finance officers ahead of final adoption.
The Cherry Hill (Chariho) Regional School Committee on Feb. 10 approved its FY27 preliminary budget to move the document into the committee review process ahead of formal adoption.
Superintendent Gina (last name not provided in the transcript) presented updated figures: a preliminary overall increase of 4.75% before state aid and a 4.99% increase after the preliminary state‑aid allocation. By town, the superintendent said the revised after‑aid percentages were about 5.02% for Charlestown, 7.82% for Richmond and 2.11% for Hopkinton under the preliminary calculations presented to the committee.
The superintendent detailed actions already taken to contain costs, including reductions tied to attrition and retirement and staff adjustments (she said roughly nine certified positions had been cut in planning). She also identified major budget drivers: transportation, utilities and extracurriculars, and noted ongoing uncertainty around DCYF and other tuition/transportation figures that could change projections.
Town managers and finance staff raised concerns that the summarized 'one‑pager' used at the omnibus meeting did not accurately reflect the town‑level figures that voters and town councils expect to see; the district finance director explained the discrepancy stems from updated state aid and adjustments in the KeyNet finance export. The committee asked finance staff to reconcile the reports with town finance officers to avoid public confusion.
Members debated where further cuts might be feasible if needed, naming athletics and some administrative lines as potential areas for study, but several members urged caution about making additional reductions that could affect student services.
Next steps: the committee approved the preliminary budget to begin its review and scheduled further discussion at a special meeting or at the March meeting before the district's formal adoption process. The superintendent pledged to provide clarified reports and to coordinate with town finance directors to reconcile the summary figures.
