United South Central board approves revised 2025–26 budget, adopts preliminary 2026–27 budget and several routine transfers

The United South Central Schools Board approved a revised 2025–26 budget and adopted a preliminary 2026–27 budget at its June meeting, while also authorizing several routine fund transfers and insurance renewals.

Stacy, a district staff member who presented the budget, told the board the combined funds 1 and 3 projection shows a $511,000 deficit that ‘‘includes $345,000 for the van garage, which will most likely get moved into next year,’’ a change that would reduce the shortfall to roughly $166,000. Stacy added that an updated adjusted-pupil-unit (ADM) report included an extra 8.5 units that could yield about $65,000 and that Medicaid (MA) revenues recently increased by $100,000 and then another $20,000.

‘‘The one thing we know with these budgets is that the day after you do them, they're always wrong,’’ Stacy said, urging the board to view the figures as working estimates. The revised 2025–26 budget was approved by voice vote.

The board then voted to adopt a preliminary 2026–27 budget so the district can continue paying bills beginning July 1. The preliminary budget reflects assumptions about ADMs, pension cost changes, projected revenues and vacant positions; Stacy cautioned the projections will be firmed up in September when official counts are available.

During the same meeting the board approved three routine transfers for fiscal 2027: $30,000 from restricted operating capital into the student-devices replacement set-aside to rebuild the Chromebook fund (the carryover balance was reported at about $19,715); $20,000 into a seal-coating/parking-maintenance set-aside; and $25,000 from Fund 1 into the community education fund to support community programs. The board approved a property and liability insurance renewal for 2026–27 (staff reported the net premium rose roughly 8 percent after deductible adjustments) and approved a long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) 10-year plan that matches projected LTFM aid and staffing needs.

The board and staff noted the district continues to monitor uncertainties — including the timing of the van garage expense and changes in state pension payment requirements for annuitants (TRA and PER) — and said final FY27 figures will depend on fall ADM counts and any adjustments to capital-project timing.

What’s next: staff will incorporate updated ADM and revenue notices into final budgets and bring refined FY27 documents back to the board as available.