This Budget Binder includes detailed information in support of the Superintendent’s FY24 Recommended Budget.  The budget was developed through the work of the administrative team, and incorporates feedback from the School Committee and community representatives.  In developing the FY24 budget, we have prioritized developing a budget that was responsive to the economic realities of the communities and prioritized maintaining programs and services for students in schools.

The reality of the FY24 Budget is one of declining resources in a period of continued and unprecedented post-pandemic student needs.  From early in our budget process, the School Committee and leadership recognized the confluence of ten significant challenges that have strained the FY24 District Budget, including:

1. Declining revenues from the state and other non-assessment sources;

2. The end of some federal pandemic relief grant programs and the resulting need to reduce/eliminate some programs and incorporate approximately $1M of costs into the district budget that had been funded by these grants during the pandemic;

3. Historic inflationary pressures on aspects of the district budget including utilities, supplies and materials.

4. An 8% increase in health insurance rates;

5. A state-approved rate increase of up to 14% for private special education schools and special education transportation services; 

6. Continued disproportionate assessment increases to Minuteman High School due to budget and enrollment increases;

7. Continued need for increased funding of critical infrastructure improvements;

8. The potential impact of labor negotiations in an extremely competitive and volatile market;

9. A period of declining reserves, necessitating a reduction in the use of E&D to balance the budget;

10. The limited ability of one community (Acton) to increase revenue through taxes and the guidance of our school committee to limit the Acton Assessment to 3%.

The cost to the district to provide level services to our students for FY24 was approximately $108.6M, an increase of approximately 5.6% over FY23.  In order to manage spending within the available resources of the communities, we are proposing a total FY24 Budget of $105.8M, an increase of 2.77% over FY23.  This has resulted in necessary reductions to the proposed budget of approximately $3M.

The District anticipates minimal increases in revenues from state aid and miscellaneous sources.  With proposed NET use of reserves decreased by $125K, and a NET reduction in staff of 15.4 FTE, the Regional Assessments to the communities are increased by 2.84% (Acton) and, due to the continued shift of enrollment from Acton to Boxborough, 5.18% (Boxborough).  

~ Peter Light,

   Superintendent of Schools