Finance director flags photocopy lease overages; budget heads to town vote

The Jefferson Public Schools finance presenter reviewed the district’s finance report at the board’s June 9 meeting and highlighted recurring photocopy lease overages and a small unbudgeted special-education equipment purchase.

The presenter said the district budgets for an assumed 3,000 pages per month under its photocopy lease but noted one recent month rose to 7,995 pages, producing a sizable monthly overage. "Monthly, we pay 3,000 for 3,000 pages. 1 month, it went to 7,995 pages," she told the board, and said she will work with the budgeting office to account for annual overages rather than the current monthly approach.

She also reported adding an equipment line for a therapeutic chair tied to special-education programming; the actual purchase was described as roughly $12,000 and was not expected to push the special-education cost center over its year-end total.

Nutrition and federal funding: the presenter said the nutrition department will distribute outreach materials to encourage families to complete the federal free-and-reduced-price lunch form and a simpler state alternative, both of which affect Title I and other federal or state funding. "Beginning July 1, I'll also be the nutrition director," she said, offering to lead outreach and materials to help families complete the forms.

Budget adoption: the board and the budget committee adopted the fiscal year 2027 budget by unanimous voice vote; the chair said the budget will be presented to town residents for a validation vote in the gym on May 20 at 6 p.m.

What comes next: the finance presenter said she will work with budget staff to revise how photocopy lease overages are forecasted, and will lead nutrition outreach beginning in July. The board did not change budget figures at this meeting; the town validation vote is the next procedural step.