$39M School Budget More Than What Melrose Can Afford: Mayor

MELROSE, MA — Superintendent Julie Kukenberger's initial school budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year is a bit too rich for the city's blood, according to the mayor.

The first of what will be many discussions — and some haggling — over the FY22 budget took place during last week's School Committee meeting. It is Kukenberger's first budget for the district, having joined Melrose Public Schools last summer.

Kukenberger's proposed budget carries a price tag of $38,995,342, a 5.46 percent increase over the FY21 budget.

The budget calls for about $1.9 million in additional school spending, almost all of which would come from the city's general revenue — essentially property tax, Mayor Paul Brodeur said. The city is expecting about a $1.7 million increase from property tax, and after some declines in other funding sources, is looking at about $1.5 million in net growth.

"The increase that is contemplated here — or the city's contribution to that — is more than the amount of new money that the city anticipates taking in from property tax," Brodeur said.

The expected state assistance "is what it is, it's not terrific," Brodeur said. Increased federal aid is hoped for but doesn't factor into the planning until signed by the president.

All in all, the city side and the school side are looking at the same pot of money, and Brodeur doesn't want to leave the city side high and dry.

"I think it's important that we all have a common understanding of the fiscal situation of the entire city as we start this out," Brodeur said. "Meaning how do we meet the needs of all our residents, both our learners and the rest of our city needs."

Even with the budget's $1.9 million increase, the district is not exactly proposing a spending spree. About $1.5 million of that is tied to contractual obligations, Kukenberger said. The budget is flat-funding its offsets.

The district has some grants but much of that funding will go to cover coronavirus-related costs.

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School Committee Chair Jen McAndrew said she empathized with the city and state's financial situation, but found it hard to put a price on getting school back on track.

"Personally I cannot think of anything more important than investing in the recovery of our students, our educators and our schools in the wake of COVID -19 and what it has done to completely upend how we deliver public education," she said. "I will be hard-pressed to be convinced that there will be higher priorities."

The budget itself offered a peek at how the district is investing in what promises to be another unique school year.

"If FY21 was COVID response, FY22 is COVID recovery," Kukenberger said to begin the high-level look at the proposal.

Kukenberger pointed out some needs that would go unmet in her budget: A middle school assistant principal; a diversity, equity and inclusion director; a human resources administrator; a director of visual and performing arts; and additional classroom teachers.

The budget will be discussed over the coming months weeks, with a vote possible as early as April 13.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.