North Middlesex finance subcommittee weighs spending FY26 surplus, possible return of funds to towns

Kim Craven, chair of the North Middlesex Regional School District finance subcommittee, said at the April 23 meeting that the district’s FY26 accounts now show more unspent money than previously expected and urged a concrete plan to spend some of those funds for students and to ease municipal burdens.

“The 1 thing that, you know, I’ve been really reviewing and looking at is the amount left over in the teacher’s line item,” Craven said, pressing administration for a proposal. She also raised returning money to towns: “My ask has been for a month now to kick back to the municipalities 2 50,” she said, using the phrasing that was spoken in the meeting.

The nut graf: Administration told the committee the district has a modest surplus but flagged specific pressures that complicate spending decisions. Nancy Haines, who reviewed the FY26 appropriation-by-category report, said the district still has funds across most sections but is watching utilities and insurance costs and recommends waiting until outstanding purchase orders and project reconciliations are settled before moving funds.

“We still have funds remaining in the budget across most all sections,” Haines said, adding she is monitoring utility overages and expects about $64,000 in health insurance expenses. She recommended waiting until June to see how pending purchase orders and project invoices settle before moving money between budget lines.

Technology needs were a prominent proposed use of surplus. Jeremy Hammond, the district technology lead, told the committee he is prepared to move quickly on a projector refresh if funds are authorized, and that some software licenses could be prepaid to avoid price increases.

“If it shows that we have additional funds, I’m prepared to kind of move forward with a large portion of our projector refresh,” Hammond said, noting that roughly half the projectors in classrooms are due for replacement and some auditorium devices are significantly more expensive.

Superintendent Morgan cautioned that staffing and salary lines are variable and that hiring uncertainty makes administrators cautious about permanently adding positions. Morgan also described efforts to partner with towns to borrow heavy equipment rather than buy it to reduce capital outlays.

“We’re trying to work on some type of partnership with the towns,” Morgan said, explaining an effort to avoid buying equipment the towns already own.

Committee members debated how prescriptive to be. Michael Bossier suggested setting a dollar cap for technology work and letting administration spend up to that limit; others asked administration to return with specific transfer amounts so the committee can act with clarity.

Timing was a central constraint: several members warned that a vote to reduce the assessment or authorize transfers may need to wait for the organizational meeting when new board members are sworn in, and that scheduling and quorum requirements complicate any special meeting before town elections conclude. Robin Ivy, the committee secretary, confirmed a letter from the town of Ashby requesting a reduction had been placed in the FY27 packet for members’ review.

No formal budget transfers or assessment reductions were approved at the April 23 meeting. The committee set an organizational meeting for the time discussed in the meeting (referred to in the record as “05:30 on the 20 ninth”) where, if quorum and membership requirements are met, the committee may consider a transfer or assessment adjustment.

The committee approved the April 3 minutes and later adjourned by roll-call vote. The finance subcommittee will reconvene when administration provides specific transfer figures and implementation steps.