$1.65 Million Braintree School Budget Cut Is On The Table

BRAINTREE, MA — Revenue losses stemming from the coronavirus pandemic will force town departments including the school district to cut their budgets, and Braintree school officials have begun grappling with how to make those cuts.

The school budget is now $73.2 million. Maintaining current school programs for another year would cost $75.79 million, due to a $2.57 million increase in contractual pay raises.

But Mayor Charles Kokoros said a more conservative budget is needed because of revenue shortfalls resulting from the pandemic. He instructed town departments to present "level service" budgets that account for contractual pay raises and then cut the budget by 10 percent.

Superintendent Frank Hackett on Monday presented the School Committee's finance and operation subcommittee the rough draft of a $1.7 million budget cut, leaving the district with a proposed $71.6 million for fiscal year 2022.

"We are heavily dependent on local revenue, and we know that's the challenge we face this year in going into 2022," Hackett said.

The cut from the $75.79 million originally planned for the fiscal year was 7.1 percent, well below Kokoros' 10 percent target. But Hackett expects Braintree will get another $1.4 million in federal and state aid to prevent some additional cuts.

The aid includes $1 million in federal money and $400,000 that has to be used for extraordinary special education costs. But Hackett said the aid is a short-term solution, as it's a one-time revenue source.

Other aid may also come, But Hackett said he wasn't sure how much or if it would have any restrictions. Regardless, the district still needs to find another $2.8 million in savings, despite the $1.4 million aid.

"We've made significant progress towards that," Hackett said. "This budget does make a significant run to get us to the 10 percent reduction. The numbers we see tonight we feel confident we’d be able to reach the target."

Hackett did not mention any specific cuts at Monday's meeting, but last week he did discuss the possibility of eliminating five teaching positions at the elementary schools and replacing retiring teachers with new hires at lower salaries.

Hackett said cuts will start outside the classroom first though. Areas like supplies and utilities will be considered first.

More information is expected at the next subcommittee meeting at 5:15 p.m., Thursday. There will also be a public hearing for the school budget on April 12.