Hoosac Valley Regional voters approve $22.48 million FY2025 school budget

Voters in the Hoosac Valley Regional School District approved a $22,481,719 budget for fiscal year 2025 at a districtwide town meeting Monday, Sept. 30, at Hoosac Valley High School. The budget passed by secret ballot after a standing/counting procedure produced a final tally of 218 in favor and 160 opposed.

The budget proposal had been endorsed by the Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee. School Committee Chair Adam Emerson moved to accept the warrant calling for a vote on the FY2025 budget; Vice Chair Erin Milne seconded the motion and the floor was opened for comments limited to the budget article.

Superintendent Aaron Dean delivered a brief presentation outlining the district’s five‑year assessment figures for Cheshire, five‑year enrollment splits, a breakdown of budget increases and steps the district has taken to support schools. Dean also described the potential consequences of an illustrative $600,000 reduction to the district’s budget.

Community member Cathy Foster objected to the presentation, asserting it was outside the scope of the warrant article. Moderator Tom Bernard, after consulting with district counsel, overruled the objection and allowed the superintendent to proceed; Foster’s appeal of that ruling did not prevent the presentation.

After limited floor discussion, the meeting moved to a secret-ballot vote. Moderator Bernard explained the counting procedure and reported updated in-room voter totals during the meeting; after ballots were counted, the moderator announced that 378 votes were cast and that the simple majority threshold (reported during the meeting as 193) had been met by the 218 affirmative votes, and the budget was approved.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that was approved; the meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m. No further formal actions related to the budget were recorded in the minutes.