Dorchester School District 4 approves amended FY26 budget and holds first reading of FY27 proposal

The Dorchester School District 4 Board voted unanimously March 18 to approve an amended FY26 general fund budget, accepting adjustments staff said were necessary to align expenditures with updated revenue. Chief Finance Officer Penny Hutto told the board the amended budget includes increases in purchased services (+$365,862), supplies (+$255,463) and fringe benefits (+$127,000), resulting in a reported deficit of $216,427 largely attributable to a holiday stipend and associated fringe costs.

Hutto presented the first reading of the proposed FY27 budget, citing a proposed revenue total of $39,645,255 and two expenditure options that would both leave shortfalls under current assumptions. She outlined the district’s work on a teacher‑pay reconciliation tied to a state mandate, noting the district’s calculations for the required increases and related fringe costs. “We had purchased services increases of $365,862 …” Hutto said while reviewing the slides, and she later quantified fund balance as $7,297,540 as of June 30, 2025 (19.56% of 2025 expenditures).

Board members asked clarifying questions about state allocations and the timing of additional revenue information. Hutto said staff are still reconciling state allocations and step increases for classified staff, and that the district will refine the budget at the next reading as additional revenue figures are finalized. No formal vote was needed on the first reading; the board is scheduled to continue budget discussions at future meetings.

The board’s approval of the amended FY26 budget was made by motion and recorded as unanimous.