Lincoln-Sudbury proposes $38.4 million FY25 budget, 3.4 percent increase

SUDBURY -- January 29, 2024, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School pitches a $38.4 million FY25 budget that comes in below Sudbury's 3.81 percent guidance. Superintendent Andrew Stevens and Finance Director Kirsteen Patterson told the Sudbury Finance Committee Monday the 3.4 percent increase would assess Sudbury $29,497,481 and Lincoln $4,301,727, restore 0.25 FTE each in math and science cut last year, add a 0.25 FTE substance use interventionist, and add 2.0 FTE in special education teaching assistants. Patterson is applying a $3,050,000 circuit breaker offset against $6.77 million in projected out-of-district tuition during a year Operational Services Division rates rose 14 percent. Stevens said the district approached the cycle "pretty conservatively" given a projected 100-student enrollment decline, the final year of the teacher contract, and 2026 debt-service rolloff. Member Henry Sorett pressed again, without resolution, for accounting of what financial benefit the district receives under its parking-lot solar array contract: "When I see the absence of transparency, I wonder whether or not the vendor's ripping us off."