HOLDEN — As the Wachusett Regional School Committee continues its work planning for next year, members voted March 9 to approve the proposed fiscal 2024 budget for the five-town school district.
After the March 6 presentation on the budget, members gathered March 9 in the Rutland library to formally approve the budget it could send to the towns for voters to consider at their annual town meetings.
The operating budget is projected to rise from the current year’s $109 million to $116 million, an increase of $7.1 million.
The budget is 6.53% over the fiscal 2023 spending plan; the five towns had collectively set a budget target, asking the district to adhere to a 4% increase in spending.
Each town’s actual assessment for its taxpayers varies based on things like the state-set minimum contribution and changes in enrollment.
“This has been a unique year,” Superintendent James Reilly said at the March 6 presentation.
But he noted goals such as building healthy town partnerships and “trying to work with our towns.”
He acknowledged issues for the district as it planned the budget, including overextending its budget, which prompted a temporary budget freeze.
“The freeze was to make sure we did not overspend again,” he said, adding that “it speaks to the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in because of past practices.”
He said the district’s per pupil spending continues to be among the lowest in the state, but higher spending
would only bring the district closer to comparable districts.
“Our towns have been supportive, but schools have not been clear what is needed,” Reilly said. “All of our towns support our schools more than they are required to do so,” adding that he was “in no way trying to say the towns don’t care about our schools. They fund them to $20 million more than they have to.”
Addressing the budget needs, he said, “What aren’t we putting in this budget? Quite honesty, there’s a lot.”
Although numbers could change, including state funding as the legislature and governor work on a state budget, the district and towns are required to build balanced budgets by the July 1 start of the 2024 fiscal year.
Increases for operating assessments are: Holden, up $1.6 milon or 4.94%; Paxton, up $299,883 or 4.18%; Princeton, up $222,779 or 4.11%; Rutland, up $1.3 million or 9.55%; and Sterling, up $610,494 or 4.91%.
The total assessments are up $4.1 million to $77 million, or 5.68%.
