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Mendon‑Upton officials urge voters to approve override to cover sharp health, salary and special‑education cost increases
Summary
District leaders told a hybrid budget session that rising health‑insurance (≈$1.7M), salary (≈$1.5M) and special‑education costs (≈$1M) have created a structural gap the towns must close with an operational override; officials warned a $4.1M failure would eliminate about 70 positions and cut programs.
The Mendon‑Upton Regional School District urged residents in a hybrid budget information session to back an operational override this spring, saying state aid and local levy growth will not cover rapidly rising fixed costs.
The superintendent said district operating costs are outpacing the 2½ percent annual levy growth allowed under Proposition 2½ and that the primary drivers this year are health insurance, contractual salary obligations and mandated special‑education services. "Health care is our biggest factor this year," a district staff member added during the presentation.
District officials gave specific estimates for next year’s increases: roughly $1.7 million for health insurance, about $1.5 million for salaries, a little under $1 million for special‑education services and about $500,000 for transportation and utilities. Officials said total state aid would rise by about $185,000 and that Chapter 70 funding growth is roughly 1 percent — increases the presenters said fall far short of the district’s new expenses.
The district framed the override as a choice between continuing to fund programs outlined in its five‑year strategic plan and making deep cuts. The superintendent warned, "4.1 million in cuts would completely dismantle our school district," and said that more than 70 positions across teaching, paraprofessional, counseling, custodial and nursing roles could be eliminated if the override fails.
Presenters said those cuts would raise class sizes (which the district cited as averaging about 19–21 in many grades) toward ranges of 25–30 in some cases, reduce elective and advanced‑placement offerings, and force the consolidation or reduction of long‑standing programs — including the district’s Spanish immersion pathway. Officials also said many stipends that fund clubs and extracurriculars would be cut and that middle school athletics currently funded by the operational budget would shift to parent funding.
The district described how it has used grants, staffing changes and reserve funds to close previous gaps but said reserves are approaching a target floor (7 percent) and are no longer sufficient to bridge the structural shortfall. The presenters also noted enrollment patterns (about 170 students entering the district versus roughly 38 leaving) and cautioned that program cuts could slow or reverse enrollment gains, which would further reduce state funding tied to student counts.
Officials outlined next steps and voting dates for the towns. Upton’s town meeting is scheduled for May 7 in the Nipmuc auditorium; Upton’s ballot vote is May 12 in the Nipmuc gym. Mendon’s annual town meeting is May 12 in the Miscoe gym, and Mendon’s town election and vote is May 19 in the Miscoe gym. Presenters encouraged residents to review online budget materials and to attend the meetings.
The district cited state funding formulas and programs (including Chapter 70 and circuit‑breaker special‑education reimbursements) as partial offsets but said those amounts have not kept pace with local cost increases. Staff said they will post answers to frequently asked questions online and follow up by email on questions raised during the session.
