Finance Committee hears SPS budget pressures; override seen meeting current needs

SUDBURY -- December 5, 2023, Sudbury Finance Committee hears SPS hold the line on costs as override funds absorb staffing surge. Superintendent Brad Crozier and Director of Business and Finance Don told the committee that 64 days into the year, override and supplemental Chapter 70 funds are covering 12 new special-education positions and 7.3 ARPA- and ESSER-funded FTEs now being rolled into the draft fiscal 2025 budget. Member Susan calculated more than 37 FTEs added between FY21 and FY24; Crozier conceded the 28 percent growth in "other teaching services" is "not going to be sustainable" at that rate. Fiscal 2023 circuit-breaker reimbursement came in at $959,767 against a $912,000 forecast, with $404,000 prepaid toward FY24 out-of-district costs. The committee learned MSBA is moving to a biennial Statement of Interest cycle and will require the Nixon School roof to be "solar ready." Minutes from Oct. 16, Oct. 23 and Nov. 6 were approved 8-0; the Oct. 19 set was returned for more deliberation detail.