LYNNFIELD — The School Committee received an update on the FY27 budget Tuesday night from Superintendent of Schools Tom Geary.
Geary reiterated what he stated at the meeting on the budget, which was to reduce the budget to 4.3%, which would allow the district to meet contractual obligations, there would not be reductions in the total number of staff, it adheres to class size guidelines, includes a new K-4 math curriculum, and would include an increase in activity fees.
“Town leaders reiterated last night that their recommended budget has us down to 3.7%. This represents a $100,000 decrease from 4%, which they had targeted earlier as the number we should be approaching,” he said. “It would be $200,000 from 4.3%.”
He noted that they have been told that if certain estimates in the budget “don’t come out as favorable as hoped,” they could drop below 3.7%, with increases in Essex Tech enrollment and factors involving health insurance causing an impact.
“As a community and for myself, it’s unconscionable after we just voted for an override last year. So all that said, I’m going to still recommend a 4.3% budget increase. It’s what’s appropriate for our students, our schools, and to meet our needs,” Geary said.
He said he is also looking into possibilities with the budget reduction.
“The biggest part of 4% is that we would be able to keep all current staff who are budgeted, which is extremely key, which is how we laid out the 4% to begin with,” he said.
Geary noted that at 3.7%, they would not be at the level of services, and that he would not be making any recommendations that night, especially concerning the 3.7%. He noted that despite having possible options with this budget, it was still a negative and would bring them backward.
