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Superintendent previews FY26 budget outlook as district reports near-full staffing
Summary
Superintendent Cabral outlined FY26 budget assumptions — a proposed statewide foundation increase of 5.4%, a $75 per-pupil minimum aid proposal, increased Chapter 70 enrollment for Taunton and a larger circuit-breaker pool — and said Taunton Public Schools is about 98% staffed; more detailed budget workshops will follow.
Superintendent Mr. Cabral briefed the School Committee on Feb. 5 on the FY26 budget message and several budget drivers that will shape next year's district proposal.
Cabral said the state's foundation (Chapter 70) is projected to rise about 5.4% in the governor's proposal and that the state proposed a $75 per-pupil minimum aid increase for FY26; he noted the district's Chapter 70 allocation will also be affected by an enrollment increase of 222 students this year. Cabral said the circuit-breaker special-education reimbursement was increased by $39 million to $532 million statewide and that a supplemental FY25 reserve of $150 million was in place to help offset special-education costs.
On federal funding, Cabral said the district receives roughly $11 million in federal grants, primarily entitlement grants such as Title I, Title III and Title IV and some professional-development grants. He said these federal funds are grant-specific and not part of Chapter 70 foundation calculations.
Cabral also told the committee the district is about 98% fully staffed, a marked improvement in staffing levels. He said the administration will schedule budget workshops with the community and the School Committee, and that he will circulate more detailed reports on how the district's FY26 resources will be allocated.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about federal grant amounts, Chapter 70 calculations and program impacts; Cabral said he would provide a detailed breakdown in subsequent communications. The committee received and placed on file a staffing update and the motion passed by recorded voice vote as "with all voting to accept."
