Brookline Balances Budget, but Schools Could Still Suffer

Brookline officials have managed to craft a $234 million budget with no series cuts to town services, but school officials are now left to make some tough decisions about their piece of the pie.

In an address included with the first draft of the budget, which was released today, Town Administrator Mel Kleckner wrote that the schools’ $74.7 million allocation “may not be sufficient to maintain the high quality of educational programs in Brookline,” adding that he hoped his office’s conservative estimates about state aid and health insurance costs prove to be wrong.

“It is essential that the School budget remain sustainable over the long-term,” Kleckner said.

The schools are reeling from the loss of federal stimulus money at a time when special education costs and the town’s growing student enrollment continue to push costs skyward. Superintendent Bill Lupini warned School Committee members earlier this month that he would “not have good news” in the town’s budget.

“I only see scenarios now where we will have to present something, or some things, to you that make fundamental changes to who we are,” Lupini said at a Feb. 3 meeting. “I believe now after digging through this numerous, numerous times over the last few weeks that that is inescapable.”

Brookline has historically split its available revenue evenly between the school department and municipal offices, with each budget offset by certain fixed costs. Municipal departments will receive a total of $63.2 million in the budget starting this July, compared to $74.4 million for the schools. The rest of the budget is eaten up by employee benefits, debt service and other line items.

The town side of the budget has escaped relatively unscathed this year, with no noticeable cuts to municipal services despite the loss of some federal and state money. Officials were able to balance the losses with savings in health care and some growth in local taxes, and Brookline property tax revenue have remained steady through the recession.

Mel Kleckner is scheduled to present the fiscal 2012 budget at tonight’s meeting, and Superintendent Bill Lupini will present the school budget at a meeting this Thursday.