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Swampscott school budget set at 3.25% town ask; officials cite $575,388 in governor's proposed aid and a net loss of 41 FTEs since 2023
Summary
The School Committee settled on a 3.25% budget ask to the town, highlighted a governor-proposed 12.4% state-aid increase (cited as $575,388) with additional House adjustments, and noted the district has reduced staff by about 41 full-time-equivalent positions since 2023 while enrollment increased by roughly 100 students.
The School Committee on April 30 said it had finalized a recommended budget package that reduces the district’s original request and will ask the town for a 3.25% increase for the coming fiscal year.
Chair Glenn Pastor summarized the process: the committee initially proposed a 3.96% ask, adjusted to 3.5% after town feedback, and settled at 3.25% after additional discussion with the town administrator and finance committee. Pastor said the superintendent will determine how to operate within the final dollar figures once they are set.
Pastor also cited the governor’s initial budget as proposing a 12.4% increase in state aid to Swampscott, which he quantified on the record as $575,388; the House added $192,926. Committee members emphasized that final numbers await Senate action and the governor’s line-item authority.
Superintendent Kalser told the committee the district is down 41 full-time-equivalent positions since 2023 while student enrollment has risen about 100 students. Members said revolving accounts and circuit-breaker timing for special education are key tools for managing volatility in special-education tuition and other costs.
Committee members discussed the tradeoffs of reducing the town ask and using revolving funds, noting those reserves can smooth spikes in special-education tuition but are finite. Several members said they hope to avoid asking the town for additional revenue midyear.
No override or emergency levy was placed on the table at the April 30 meeting; rather, members described the 3.25% figure as the district’s planned request to the select board and town meeting.
