Q2 school budget report shows spending at “healthy” level
DUXBURY — The financial report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 showed that Duxbury Public Schools have spent or committed to spend 45.1% of the yearly budget by December 31, which Director of Business and Finance Lisa Freeley said is “where we should be.”
The schools were awarded a budget of $44.3 million at the last town meeting, and the town and schools are now in the process of crafting a budget for fiscal year 2027. The school committee is seeking a budget increase of 8.5%—well over the 2.5% general budget increase allowed by state law—and the Select Board is seeking an override to deal with rising municipal costs
Projections for the rest of the year’s spending show a $1.2 million surplus across all accounts. However, the picture varies by department: some are facing deficits, others are operating on tight budgets, and a few are reporting higher-than-expected surpluses. At this time last year, the schools projected a $900,000 surplus.
“This is actually a healthy place to be,” Freeley said. “We have about four months of school payroll and operations behind us with resources remaining for the rest of the year.”
Taking spending so far into account, Freeley projected that nearly 78% of the total fiscal year 2026 operating budget will go to curriculum and instruction costs. “That is teachers, instructional assistants, classroom supplies, books, software, and all the direct support for students,” she said.
Salary costs take up the largest portion of the operating budget, and the schools have now spent 37% of the salary budget, or $13.5 million. Freeley estimated that almost 96% of the salary budget has been committed for the rest of the year.
Salary costs are likely to be higher than original projections, according to the report. Superintendent Danielle Klingman said that six employees have announced their retirements, a larger-than-usual number that makes for a large separation cost, driving fixed charges—the line items that includes separation costs—into a projected $42,000 overage.
The cost of outsourced technology support has grown higher than anticipated, contributing to a projected overage of $20,000 in the administration line item.
The schools have spent about $2.5 million on non-salary costs, including utilities and transportation, and they have committed another $3.1 million. That is about 71% of the non-salary budget already spent or committed—but the high percentage is in part because the school has already been reserved for year-long service contracts and software licenses, Freeley said.
“When we sign a contract for, say, bus transportation for the year, we encumber that money so it's set aside, even though we haven't paid the bill yet,” she said. “It's reserved for that particular expense.”
Heating expenses were higher than those in the previous few years with relatively mild winters. With colder temperatures this year, “boilers are running on overdrive, and it means higher gas prices and electrical costs,” Freeley said.
Freeley identified maintenance as a financial area of concern, as the facilities department has to deal with aging buildings and too little funding to proactively address maintenance needs.
As town officials weigh an 8.5% school budget increase and a potential override to cover rising costs, the district’s financial outlook is likely to face close scrutiny from voters. While school leaders describe the current budget position as stable, residents have voiced opposition to an override, arguing that taxpayers are stretched thin and that spending growth should be curbed. With fiscal year 2027 discussions underway, the debate over how to balance educational priorities with broader financial pressures is expected to intensify in the months ahead.
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