Amesbury MA Schools Re-Visit Budget Cuts

AMESBURY MA Schools

Education Officials Start Planning For Next School Year

School Department unveiled its proposed $27.3 million level-services budget to School Committee members last week.  The proposal calls for a 5.5 percent increase over the current $25.8 million budget.

The biggest budget items expected to rise by:

Special Education – $334,877

Health Insurance – $356,014

Union contracts –  $254,278.

The proposed budget doesn’t bring back all the cuts made in the current budget.

Robinson’s proposed budget reinstates two teaching positions at the middle school to eliminate the current study halls and restores cuts made to the athletic budget, including the boys and girls tennis programs, freshman baseball and freshman softball.

Budget Calendar

Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m., budget workshop

March 1, 5:30 p.m., budget workshop

March 20, 7 p.m., public hearing

April 3, 7 p.m., school committee vote

School Revenue

State aid Chapter 70: $8.4 million

Town contribution: $17.4 million

Circuit breaker*: $784,069

School choice: $400,000

South Hampton: $220,000

Transportation fees: $110,000

Athletic fees: $120,000

Preschool fees: $92,000

Facilities rental: $70,000

Food service program: $750,000

Federal grant: $1.07 million

State grant: $1.2 million

*State money for special education costs for high school students

For more information on Amesbury MA Schools go to Amesbury Public Schools.