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District presents FY27 budget ‘balanced’ after tapping revolving accounts; committee warns of service losses
Summary
Administrators said they closed a $228,000 FY27 shortfall by shifting revenue from revolving funds and unused accounts and relying on attrition; committee members praised the work but cautioned the approach risks hollowing out student services and urged clear plans for reinstating counselors if revenue allows.
A district finance staff member told the Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee that an updated FY27 budget closes an earlier $228,000 gap primarily by using revolving-account revenues, including food services, and by reclaiming funds from several long-unused accounts.
The presenter said the revised budget ‘‘comes in at the same place that we were at on February 4th’’ but that the gap was closed without additional cuts to the line items already discussed. ‘‘We were able to close that $228… and come in at what we’re calling balanced or neutral,’’ the presenter said.
Why it matters: Committee members said the approach avoids immediate cuts but shifts the district’s margin to one-time or nonrecurring revenues and attrition, which they warned could leave core student services vulnerable if revenues fall or costs rise.
Committee member Rosemary asked whether positions were being eliminated through attrition and the presenter confirmed that two positions would not be refilled — a high-school physical-education teacher and a lunch/para position — representing roughly $125,000 in savings. Rosemary and other members stressed the risk that repeated attrition could ‘‘hollow out the schools of services’’ and urged caution about long-term staffing and program impacts.
On restoring services, Dr. Marcus said reinstating adjustment counselors (positions cut in November) is a high priority but requires a broader administrative review to determine district-wide needs and costs. ‘‘It’s a longer, deeper conversation with the admin team’’ to identify priorities and make sure social-emotional needs are addressed, Dr. Marcus said. He added that financial stability must come first before the district can guarantee rehires.
The committee also discussed nonbudget interventions that could reduce pressure on staff, including a possible shift in school start times — a change one member noted ‘‘would have to be negotiated’’ under existing unit A contracts — and greater use of community partners such as Riverside and the Whitman-Will team for supplemental supports.
Revenue opportunities were highlighted as part of the solution. Staff described a recent audit effort and vendor review intended to increase Medicaid and other reimbursements, with nursing services identified as the largest near-term opportunity. The presenter said the district has met with its current vendor (Frontline) and is evaluating alternatives (SNAP) to improve claiming processes ahead of a July 1 contract renewal.
The committee set a date for a follow-up subcommittee meeting and adjourned. The subcommittee will return to budget and assessment items at its next meeting on March 25 at 5 p.m.
