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BPS projects $53 million shortfall; council hearing presses district for staffing and budget details
Summary
Boston Public Schools officials told the City Council’s education committee on March 2 that the district faces a roughly $50–53 million FY26 overrun and has paused central hiring, new contracts and discretionary stipends; officials said staffing reductions would be part of next year’s budget process and pledged follow‑up data.
Boston Public Schools officials told the City Council Committee on Education on March 2 that the district is managing a projected FY26 budget overrun of roughly $50–53 million and has implemented a targeted pause on central hiring, discretionary contracts and stipends while exempting student‑facing services.
"In December, we brought to the school committee an approximately $50,000,000 projected overrun," David Bloom, BPS chief financial officer, told councillors. He said the main cost drivers were health insurance, transportation, out‑of‑district special education costs, food services and full‑time employees.
Bloom said the district launched an initial pause of central hiring, stipends and contract spending, then expanded the pause after reviewing October and November spending data. He said the pause "does not mean a universal freeze" and that direct service school‑based staffing, supports…
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