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Regional School District 08 proposes $33.66 million budget and discloses $1.7M credit‑offset error
Summary
Superintendent Dr. McNamara presented a $33.66 million administrative budget (3.19% increase) and disclosed a calculation error dating to 2020 that left about $1.7 million in member‑town credit offsets; the district plans to apply the credits to next year’s levies and is hiring outside accounting review.
Dr. McNamara presented the Regional School District 08 proposed administrative budget for fiscal year 2026–27: a $33,661,483 package composed of a $33,161,483 net operating budget and a $500,000 capital budget, representing a 3.19% increase over the current year.
The superintendent said the proposal focuses on instructional priorities, social‑emotional supports, talent management and maintaining facilities while keeping the district’s increase lower than the state average. “The 26–27 Region 8 proposed budget reflects a 3.19% increase over the current year,” he told the board.
During the presentation Dr. McNamara disclosed a multi‑year calculation error in the district’s credit‑offset formula dating to 2020. The error understated the offset applied to member towns and resulted in a fund balance the district says should have been returned to members. The district reported the current balance at just over $1.7 million and said the funds were never spent for other purposes.
The administration provided a town‑by‑town allocation plan for the credit offsets: Andover is scheduled to receive approximately $255,234; Hebron about $849,497; and Marlboro about $600,205. Bank interest of $23,676 earned on those funds will also be applied as credit offsets. Dr. McNamara said those credits will be applied to each town’s levy for the next fiscal year.
Board members and the administration explained that the current proposal reflects roughly $1.4 million of personnel and service reductions that were removed from earlier requests through attrition, trimming an initial 7.42% increase down to the present 3.19%. Reductions cited included several certified positions and three para‑educator roles; administrators said these were achieved mainly through attrition.
On audits and next steps, the chair said the district’s annual audits had not previously flagged the miscalculation. The board plans two corrective steps: (1) calculate surplus and credit offsets at fiscal‑year close so the end‑of‑year figures are reviewed before audit completion, and (2) secure an external accounting firm to review audit reports back to 2020 and report findings publicly.
The presentation also included capital priorities and non‑lapsing account usage. Administration said approximately $700,000 from the non‑lapsing account funded a recently completed track replacement and listed future bonding priorities—roof replacement, HVAC systems and controls, life‑safety, parking and technology upgrades—after a facilities study.
The board did not adopt a final budget at the meeting. The administration said it will share the external reviewer’s findings in a public meeting and apply the credit offsets to member towns’ levies as described.
