Lincoln-Sudbury flags substitute and retirement overruns in FY25 budget update

SUDBURY — December 16, 2024 — Lincoln-Sudbury reports substitute and retirement overruns to Sudbury Finance Committee. Superintendent Andrew Stevens and Finance Manager Christine Patterson told the committee December 16 that the district has spent roughly $150,000 of a $130,000 substitute-teacher budget four months into FY25, and was assessed $975,000 by the Middlesex County Retirement System against a $930,000 budget after a mid-year OPEB-funding change. Out-of-district special education placements fell from 60 to 48 year-over-year, and an unexpected Chapter 70 minimum-aid bump produced roughly $158,000 in additional state revenue. Patterson said a debt vote for a low-slope fluid-applied roof restoration — estimated in the $3-to-$4 million range — would come at the May 2026 town meeting, timed to coincide with the October 2025 retirement of the high school's existing building debt. Co-Chair Michael Ferrari said the FY26 guidance disparity with SPS shows "the incentive structure is all wrong." Members approved the October 28 minutes 7-0.