TEMPLETON — It appears likely that voters in Phillipston and Templeton will be faced with a Proposition 2 ½ override to fully fund the budget Narragansett Regional Schools Superintendent Chris Casavant is proposing for fiscal year 2020. Casavant Monday night explained the spending package to officials from both towns in the district.
In a PowerPoint presentation he explained that projected costs for the upcoming fiscal year total just over $23.1 million. That amount includes nearly $20.4 million in general fund spending. Other costs include about $1.2 million for school choice, $412,000 in cafeteria costs, $200,000 for the extended day program, and $69,000 for athletics.
However, projections show the district bringing in just over $22.1 million in revenues. That leaves the district with a shortfall of $1,016,354.
Casavant explained that the general fund total of $20,383,102 represents an increase in 9.15 percent over FY19 spending. The amount will allow the district to maintain level services and meet “required/targeted needs.” He added the funding would “maintains optimum class sizes and builds on the district’s focus on continuous improvement.”
The budget includes – among other things – $880,000 more for instructional services, $200,000 more for operation and maintenance, an additional $83,000 for administrative costs.
Casavant, quoting former Worcester School Committee member Tracy O’Connell Novick, said, “A budget is a moral document. What we fund is what we value.”
“This is certainly true,” he said. “There are a lot of things that didn’t make this budget that we certainly feel that we need. We had to stick to this (budget) and figure out what we value and what we absolutely had to have – at a minimum – for the kids.”
Templeton Town Administrator Carter Terenzini said, “I am going to ask that you take anything you need and put in on an override because, with any other option, the (spending) gap is so wide. I don’t see any other way out of it. The sad thing is that at $20 a student on the Chapter 70 (state aid) formula, and a drib here, and a drab there, we’re going to keep having this conversation every single year.”
“So,” he continued, “that’s where I’m coming from. We really don’t have anything to give you. I say put what you need in front of the voters and let them decide. That’s obviously up the board (of selectmen) I work for. We haven’t had a chance to talk about it.”
“You gave us many different scenarios,” said Templeton Select Board Diane Haley Brooks, “and you came to a conclusion that is reasonable and logical, and you need it. You have my support.”
“I personally had hopes of Phillipston not having to do it,” said Tom Specht, co-chair of that town’s Finance Committee. “Not that Phillipston wouldn’t support an override, it’s just that personally I don’t want to take that gamble. If we can work our budget as such that we can accommodate the money needed, then it would be well worth doing. The jury is still out on that. We just started our budget process.”
If it turns out an override must be sought, the exact division of costs between the two towns has yet to be determined. Traditionally, Templeton carries about 80 percent of the district’s costs, with Phillipston responsible for the remainder.