SAUGUS — Director of Finance and Administration Pola Andrews gave the quarterly financial report for the schools, with concerns for utilities and athletics.
Andrews noted that $23,516,877.49 have been expended and encumbered for the FY26 budget as of right now.
“The operating budget is OK. 32% of the budget is left because of the summer pays… Special Education Transportation, as I noted in the Sept. 30 report, there was a projected shortfall because we’ve had some students move in,” she said.
The shortfall as of the Thursday meeting is projected at $369,000; however, Andrews noted that transportation can be volatile every year, and it’s the same in every school district.
“It’s something we try to control, but to a certain degree when there’s changes we can’t control it. We always know to set aside unpaid leaves and any turnover to help that,” she said.
Andrews’ main concern was the utilities shortfall.
“We are projecting a $190,000 shortfall… While the increasing rates have contributed to the deficit, I really did a little bit of a deep dive into our usage. And what I found is that the complex is really out of whack,” she said.
Andrews said that as of the meeting, the complex has used 497,499 kilowatt hours more during the same period last fiscal year.
“During the month of October alone, the usage exceeded the previous… by 111,987 kilowatt hours,” she said.
Andrews noted that it could be due to how late the field lights remain on at the stadium, and that an action plan was being created, including a requested formal meter reading. She said she thinks the lights should be placed on some sort of timer.
When Andrews completed her report, Committee Chair Tom Whittredge explained that the stadium lights had been on a timer that ran until 10 p.m., but now Athletic Director Matt Serino has set it to a week-by-week schedule, saving energy and costs.
“The lights are on all the time that are on top of the building. The ones that say Home of the Sachems,” Whittredge said, continuing that he believes they were working on putting a photocell up, which would turn the lights on at dusk and off at dawn automatically.
“The way we’re going to mitigate that cost is… turnover, unpaid leave, budget efficiencies,” she said. “But we need not to carry it into next year. That’s my biggest concern.”
Andrews said that most of the revolving and fee-based accounts were doing well, but there was a concern for athletics.
“Expenses are outpacing revenue. I am requesting that the Athletic Subcommittee meet to do a fiscal review of the program. I just don’t want to see it go off the rails,” Andrews said.
Committee member and Athletic Subcommittee Chair Dennis Gould said he’d like to hold a joint meeting with the Finance Subcommittee, chaired by School Committee member Brian Doherty, to determine the best course of action.
Andrews shared good news for food services: Whitson’s was once again the successful bidder, and there would be a guaranteed return of $165,000. She added that the school typically breaks even and that this news was “huge.”
The return means that Saugus will be able to continue charging the cooking gas and dedicated custodial staff to the program, as well as equipment repairs.
“I want to start by thanking Michele Wendell (Saugus’ procurement director) at Town Hall, who organized our RFP for food service management company, and helped us to review and score the bids. And also a big thank you to Mr. Gould and Ms. (Stephanie) Mastrocola, who spent hours with us reviewing the bids,” she said.
