Agriscience academy behind budget increase
Region 12 voters will be asked to consider a $22.8 million budget, 4.57 percent higher than the current budget, largely due to the new agriscience academy program that begins this fall.
The pricetag includes two teachers, programming and operational costs for the agriscience academy.
“A portion of the 4.57 percent budget request increase will be offset by the tuition-in and agriscience programs’ revenue,” Superintendent of Schools Megan Bennett said.
Region 12 will receive about $430,000 more in revenue for the agriscience program from the state and towns sending students to the school. This will help offset the overall increase of nearly $997,000. The state reimburses for all of the students in the program, including those in the district from Washington, Bridgewater and Roxbury.
This means Washington will pay $10.6 million for the budget, Roxbury will cover $7.75 million and Bridgewater is responsible for $4.45 million. These portions are determined proportionally based on each town’s enrollment in the district.
The agriscience tuition revenue is expected to increase in the years ahead as more students enroll. At the start, only freshman and a small sophomore class have been expected.
“The agriscience program is an investment for our towns,” Bennett said.
The program has been in the works for a few years. Voters adopted it in 2015 and the construction is wrapping up this summer and the next school year.
It is designed to teach agriculture courses with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math. The hope is to bolster the declining Region 12 enrollment by attracting students from other towns and meet a demand for this type of program.
Contractual salary and benefit increases are a budget driver.
Salaries account for $12.8 million, or 56.2 percent of the overall budget and 1.18 percent more than last year. Benefits account for $3.67 million, or 16.1 percent of the overall budget, which is 6.19 percent more than the current year.
Another budget driver is the upgrades to the district’s buildings, totaling about $434,000, up from the $21,900 included in the current budget.
This includes a card access system for the whole district, replacing oil tanks, painting, plumbing work, air conditioning items, LED lighting, replacing restroom partitions, tree work and relining the gym floor at Burham School.
School board members have said the costs to run the schools remains and its the contractual obligations and the new program that have caused the increase.
“There isn’t a lot of room to play with,” board member Greg Cava said when the board adopted the proposal earlier. “It’s a very tight budget. Though it’s expanded, it’s expanded because of a program we’re committed to.”
Bennett said they have also found some savings from the bond and BAN sales.
The budget referendum is set for May 7 in the three towns.