Braintree Mayor Seeking State Aid To Avoid School Budget Cuts

BRAINTREE, MA — Mayor Charles Kokoros said he will request Gov. Charlie Baker give more emergency COVID-19 relief funds to Braintree to try to avoid massive cuts to the school budget and other town departments.

Without additional relief, the School Committee must reduce the school budget from about $76 million to $73.2 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Superintendent Frank Hackett said eliminating teaching positions may be on the table, as would replacing retiring teachers with new hires at lower salaries, without more funding. Specifically, five elementary school teaching positions would be at risk, but Hackett said cuts will start outside the classroom first.

Speaking at Monday’s School Committee meeting, Kokoros said the town suffered significant revenue losses amid the coronavirus pandemic. Those losses came from less money coming in from local meals, hotel and excise taxes. Kokoros also said Braintree will receive $100,000 less in aid under Baker’s proposed state budget.

"I'm lobbying the governor for additional money," Kokoros said. "Braintree is in desperate need of help."

Kokoros has instructed town departments to present level service budgets that account for contractual pay raises and then cut the budget by 10 percent. The mayor has until May 1 to submit a budget proposal to the Town Council, and he said he’s obligated to present a balanced budget.

More specifics on the school budget are expected to be discussed at the School Committee’s finance and operations subcommittee meeting Thursday.