• No agreement on Wachusett Regional school budget

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  By Christian Yapor
  Correspondent

  
  Posted Jun. 16, 2016 at 2:55 PM
  Updated at 5:06 PM
  
  
  

  HOLDEN — After a four-hour discussion Wednesday, the Wachusett Regional School Committee was unable to reach a consensus on any of the proposed budget options for fiscal 2017.

  Among the options discussed was so-called Option B, which was put forth by the business/finance subcommittee. The proposal was based on an increase in state aid, and a reduction to the minimum contributions the towns had to pay. The district would also apply more Excess and Deficiency money, which would not reduce the budget, but it would lower the member towns' assessments.

  Option AB1 also called for an increase in state aid and a decrease in the minimum contributions of the towns. Option AB1 would achieve the savings to towns by cutting the budget $341,134, producing a combined reduction of assessments to the towns of $1.03 million.

  If the committee fails to reach a consensus on a new budget by Dec. 1, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will set a budget for the balance of the year.

  The committee will meet again on June 22 to discuss new budget options for fiscal 2017.

  The current approved fiscal 2017 budget is $87.57 million, which is an increase of $4.64 million or 5.6 percent over this fiscal year's budget.