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Preston School District finance committee reviews FY26 budget increases and flags potential new bus route
Summary
The Preston School District Board of Education Finance Committee reviewed a Financial Manager presentation on Jan. 16, 2025, that outlined projected FY26 cost increases across salaries, benefits, utilities and plant operations and noted a possible additional bus route; minutes were approved and the meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.
The Preston School District Board of Education Finance Committee met Jan. 16, 2025, at the Preston Plains Library to review projected cost increases for the FY26 budget. Cindy Varricchio, financial manager, presented an "Itemization of Costs" handout that detailed anticipated rises in salaries, benefits, utilities and plant operations.
Varricchio said the committee should expect total salary costs of $7,191,870 in FY26, an increase of $213,638 from the prior year, and benefits costs of $2,380,028, up $211,228. Transportation costs were projected at $204,000 (an increase of $15,000), utilities at $324,850 (up $66,806), and plant operations at $266,033 (up $67,958). She also reported an 11.9% increase in health insurance costs and a 3.7% rise in NFA 2026 tuition for regular education. The handout included a line noting gym cleaning at $50,000 per gym.
Committee members discussed transportation implications, with Varricchio noting the district may need an additional bus route; she said that route might be started under the FY25 budget rather than deferred. The meeting record does not specify funding source details beyond the handout's itemizations or a formal decision to authorize new service.
Procedural items included approval of the minutes from Jan. 9, 2025. Deborah Burke-Grabarek moved to approve the minutes and Megan Gallant seconded; the motion was recorded as approved (tally not specified). The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 PM after a motion to adjourn, again moved by Deborah Burke-Grabarek and seconded by Megan Gallant, which was recorded as approved (tally not specified). The committee scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
The presentation provided line-item forecasts and several cost drivers that the Finance Committee will need to incorporate as the district advances the FY26 budget; the transcript does not record any formal vote on budget adoption or specific funding reallocations.
