SAUGUS — Pola Andrews, executive director of finance and administration, presented the quarterly financial report to the School Committee Thursday night.
“Saugus Public Schools has expended and encumbered $18,849,881.82,” Andrews noted in regard to the actual to budget as of Jan. 31.
She continued that 58% of the year has passed, and 54% of the budget has been spent.
“We’re doing OK with the budget this year. Not many hotspots. We have made a number of transfers because in October we voted that I could transfer between salary lines and between supplies and services,” she said.
Andrews continued that the contractual service line that she amended was the McKinney-Vento line.
“We are projected not to need all of that money in the budget, so it was moved to the legal line. That was a line that was in need of some additional funding,” Andrews said.
She continued that medical therapeutic services also needed support, which was received through the McKinney-Vento balance as well.
The Committee also received a look at the grant balances as of Jan. 28.
“For those of you who were here the last two years, you see that it’s a lot shorter than it used to be. We’re only receiving our entitlement grant right now, and the FY25 is nearly spent down, so we’re going to start chipping away at the FY26 and spend those down,” she said.
The revolving account balances are doing well and in the positive, though Andrews noted that she is watching the Athletics Program.
“Because we were able to carry some funding over, we will be OK for this school year. It’s projected not to be so great next school year, so we’re looking at some possible solutions. Obviously, we don’t want to cut any programs, (and) we don’t want to increase fees,” she said.
Andrews said they’re working with Athletic Director Matt Serino and Superintendent Michael Hashem to see what can be done.
Due to two positions not being filled, a budget amendment was made to move those funds into the medical therapeutic line.
