MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield School Committee’s Athletics Subcommittee is reviewing ways to reduce a $70,000 shortfall in the district’s sports budget.
At a Sept. 24 meeting, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said the district must examine athletic expenses closely before considering raising fees.
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Tom Miller explained that while the athletics program ended last year $170,000 short, the operating budget absorbed $100,000 of those costs. That left a current deficit of about $70,000.
Athletic Director Bill Battis pointed to transportation as the largest expense. Committee members noted that rising bus costs, uniform replacements, custodial expenses, and rentals such as ice time are all among the biggest drivers of the athletics budget. Coaches’ stipends and referee fees also contribute to overall costs.
The subcommittee discussed reducing the number of buses for large teams, exploring longer uniform replacement cycles, and reviewing custodial costs that currently total about $36,000 per year. Sullivan said he valued maintaining bus transportation for equity and safety.
Ahead of the next meeting, the group will review custodial costs, in addition to analyzing transportation and uniform expenses. They also agreed to examine the number of freshman and sub-varsity teams fielded, particularly where competition is limited.
The group scheduled its next session for Oct. 9 at 6 p.m., where members will review detailed breakdowns and consider recommendations for reducing costs.
“Our goal is to identify reductions of at least $70,000,” Sullivan said. “If we create some cut areas or some trimming areas, we’ll bring that to the school committee to get their thoughts.”
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