Weymouth schools forecasting a tough budget season. They need to cut $2.5 million

WEYMOUTH – With COVID-era funding running out, union-negotiated pay increases and shaky revenue projections, the school department is looking for $2.5 million in cuts as it prepares next year's budget.

The department is proposing a fiscal 2025 budget of $89.1 million, which is an increase of about $4.9 million, or 5.78%, over this fiscal year. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

Assistant School Superintendent Brian Smith told the school committee that the school department this year is again using zero-based budgeting, which means starting budgets at zero and reevaluating how much money each school and department needs. Budgets are then built around what is needed for the upcoming period.

How do administrators plan to make up the shortfall?

Smith said administrators are proposing several cost-saving measures. First, Smith said the district could save about $1.225 million by reducing under-enrolled courses and streamlining interventions and supports.

The district could save about $575,000 by eliminating administrative positions, which would require administrators to take on more responsibilities.

The district also hopes to save $700,000 by reducing overall operating costs. Smith said the district could do this by increasing fees, adding expense reviews and locking in lower energy prices for utilities, among other cost-saving measures.

What are the challenges with Weymouth's budget?

Smith said Chapter 70 aid, or state funding for schools, is expected to increase only $176,000.

The amount of money the state reimburses districts when students leave for charter schools is expected to decrease 47%, or about $416,000.

Overall, state aid as a whole for the school district is expected to increase just $82,300, or one-tenth of 1% of the current budget. That equates to about $14 per student.

The district also needs to make up the difference now that money from the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund has run out. Smith said the impact from that loss is about $2.5 million.

"This problem is not unique to Weymouth," Smith said.

School committee member Kathy Curran said town and school officials need to ask the state delegation to make school funding a priority in the state budget.

"We need these people to advocate," she said.

The school committee plans to vote on the budget at its March 21 meeting.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth School Department faces cuts