Mattapoisett school budget to go before Finance Committee

Mar 14, 2016

The second draft of the Mattapoisett school budget is almost $126,000 slimmer than what was initially proposed, and includes two additional positions.

The proposed budget is $6,782,000, a $396,000 increase above the current year. Moving the media librarian to a full-time position and a new .3 health teacher account for almost $40,000 of the increases. A kindergarten position that was originally included in the budget has been removed.

The remaining increases are for special education services, including $165,000 to offset circuit breaker funds.

Circuit breaker money comes from the state to help pay for unforeseen special education costs, but Business Administrator Patrick Spencer says the money has been relied on as a regular budget item, which isn’t its purpose.

“It’s a better way of using circuit breaker,” he said.

The Budget Subcommittee has already been in talks with the town’s Finance Committee to arrive at a number both sides can agree on, and the current draft will be presented to the members on Wednesday.

While the Old Rochester Regional budget is still up in the air, Superintendent Doug White said "this one seems to be in good stead as we go forward," said White.

A public hearing on the budget will be held April 11 at 7 p.m. at Center School. The School Committee may take a vote to approve the budget following that hearing.

Residents would then need to approve the vote at the Annual Town Meeting for it to go forward.