Weymouth Schools Present FY22 Budget of Up to $80.2 Million Before Public Hearing

WEYMOUTH -- March 1, 2021, Weymouth School Committee Budget Subcommittee reviews FY22 budget scenarios ranging from $79.1 million to $80.1 million ahead of a March 11 public hearing. Chief Financial Officer Brian Smith presented two adjusted scenarios, a level-service budget at $79,128,625 representing a 6.37 percent increase, and a level-service-plus-full-day-kindergarten budget at $80,133,639 representing a 7.72 percent increase, both after accounting for a $25,000 superintendent salary addition and $130,000 in projected utility savings. Smith noted that applying half of the district's $2.911 million ESSER II federal relief allocation to FY22 could reduce the effective increase to 4.42 or 5.77 percent, depending on the scenario. Member Lisa Belmarsh drew a clarification that the published 6.51 percent level-service figure overstates the true year-over-year increase because roughly $500,000 in technology leases previously carried in the capital budget have been moved into operating. The subcommittee also heard a proposal to restart the district's waycare program in fall 2021 at primary schools only, afternoons only, with daily rates rising as much as 59 percent, from $14.50 to $23, to meet state EEC reimbursement minimums.