The Westbrook School Department Finance Committee met on Tuesday, June 18 to review a list of reductions to the FY25 budget that were proposed by the school department’s Leadership Team. This meeting was followed by a full School Committee meeting at which a revised FY25 budget was passed (5-0) on first reading.
The revised budget amounts to $51,012,581.88 ($50,492,022.29 general fund plus $520,559.59 adult education). This represents a reduction of $722,133.84 from the budget that was approved by the School Committee and City Council in May. The increase over FY24 was reduced from 9.62% to 8.09%. The impact on the mill rate was reduced from $10.69 to $10.44. The combined city/school impact on taxes has been reduced to 9.3%.
The following were reductions made during the Finance Committee meeting and accepted by the School Committee as part of the revised budget:
Eliminate Curriculum Coordinator new position ($125,489.24 Salary and Benefits)
Eliminate CDL Instructor at WRVC open position ($90,686.11 Salary and Benefits)
Eliminate Executive Assistant in the Finance Department and transfer to open Accounts Payable position (74,450.48 Salary and Benefits)
Eliminate Maintenance Specialist open position ($70,044.55 Salary and Benefits)
Eliminate Mechanic open position ($94,772.00 Salary and Benefits)
Move 1 teacher at Saccarappa to be paid by ESSA federal funds (70,653.08 Salary and Benefits)
Eliminate 1 teacher at Saccarappa open position (93,688.38 Salary and Benefits)
Reduce WMS/WHS Computer Repair ($40,000)
Reduce lease purchase of buses from 2 buses to 1 bus ($26,000)
Move Adult Education allowable expenses to be paid by Workforce Development Grant ($25,000)
Eliminate Audio Visual Equipment ($3,000)
Eliminate stipend for Key Club at WHS ($8,350)
The second reading of the budget and a public hearing will be held on Friday, June 21 at 5pm. The City Council will consider the School Department's revised budget on Monday, June 24 at 6pm (first reading) and Thursday, June 27 at 6pm (second reading.) All meetings are at WHS Rm 114 and on Zoom and Facebook. A public vote on the School Budget is tentatively scheduled for July 16. Thank you for being part of the process and voting on July 16.