Westfield board previews 2025–26 operating budget and two April bond questions; state aid boost trims ballot ask

The Westfield Board of Education heard a detailed presentation on the district’s preliminary 2025–26 operating budget and the two bond referendum questions that will appear on the April 15 ballot.

Dr. Gonzales opened the budget presentation as the third in a public series, saying the plan primarily sustains current programs and staffing while supporting a new secondary master schedule that will require additional operational investments. He said the preliminary budget will be submitted to the county office of the Department of Education for review and that the board will hold a final public hearing and vote on March 25.

Patty, the board’s finance administrator, told the board the district received an unanticipated 6% increase in state aid, “which equaled about $500,000.” She said the additional state aid allowed the administration to reduce the district’s additional‑spending ballot question from $800,000 to about $302,000 and explained the revenue mix: roughly 90% of district revenue comes from the local tax levy, with state aid making up about 6.8% of total revenues. Using an example valuation of $826,700 for an average home, Patty said the combined effect of the base budget and the additional spending proposal would be about $240 per year for the typical homeowner, of which $33 is attributable to the district’s additional spending question.

Dr. Gonzales described the two referendum questions on the ballot. The first would fund renovations and infrastructure work across nine schools (HVAC, restroom upgrades, small‑group instructional spaces, media‑center work and auditorium updates). The second would finance construction and renovations to implement full‑day kindergarten, including adding classroom space and relocating main offices at some elementary schools to improve visitor entry and safety. He cautioned the board and public that while the questions are separate, they are interdependent: if the full‑day‑kindergarten question passes and the broader renovation question does not, the district may need to use capital reserves or operating funds to complete required work.

Administration said final debt‑service aid figures and other detailed numbers were expected from the state shortly; the district told the board it expected debt‑service aid notification by March 10 and final referendum numbers in time for the March 25 hearing. The administration also outlined an outreach campaign — roadshows, PTO presentations, digital flyers, a bond information portal and social‑media clips — to educate voters about the referendum and mail‑in ballot options.

Board members asked for clarifications about the tax‑cap terminology and the three items that will appear on the April 15 ballot: the base operating budget followed by the two referendum questions. Patty explained the board may adopt a budget up to a 2.92% cap without voter approval (an adjustment that reflected higher health‑care costs) and that the additional ballot question represents the incremental 0.26% being placed before voters.

The administration emphasized the two‑step nature of the funding effort: the bond questions would finance building and capital work, but if voters approve full‑day kindergarten capacity, an additional operating budget increase would later be required to staff those classrooms. Dr. Gonzales urged residents to use the district’s voter resources and to participate in the April 15 vote.

The board did not vote on the final budget or the referendum language at this meeting; the preliminary budget was presented for submission and review by the county office ahead of the March 25 public hearing and vote.