Wellesley Public Schools: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
Fiscal Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Select Board Guideline
School Committee Guideline
School Department Increase
4.00% 4.00% 3.50% 3.50% 3.00%
4.50% 4.00% 4.50% 4.00% 3.65%
4.98% 4.25% 3.49% 3.44% 3.37%
Modified 3.50% + Spec. Ed. Funding
Model 1: 3.50% Model 2: 3.50% + Spec. Ed. Model 3: 4.25% + Spec. Ed. Model 1: 2.50% Model 2: Level Service Model 1: 2.75% Model 2: Level Service
3.82% + Spec. Ed. = 4.86%
2022
2.50%
2.69%
2023
2.75%
2.74%
2024
3.00%
Model 1: 3.00% Model 2: Level Service Model 3: Strategic Investments – Year 1 Model 1: 3.70% Model 2: Level Service Model 3: Strategic Investments – Year 2 Model 1: 3.25% Model 2: Level Service Model 3: Strategic Investments – Year 3
3.57% (14.00% OOD Increase)
2025
3.70%
3.70%
2026
3.25%
3.50% ($224,566 over 3.25%)
The models listed above reflect the different budget views the School Committee requested the Administration to develop each year. With these guidelines in mind, the administrative team developed the FY’26 Budget for review by the School Committee. Budget Architecture Historically, the budget process begins with the district’s standard architecture that builds on Level Service needs with Strategic Priorities and Other Critical Needs to reach a complete budget request to submit to the School Committee. Through careful financial planning, maximizing federal revenue sources, and maintaining spending restraints, the Town of Wellesley and Wellesley Public Schools are entering the fiscal year 2026 in a more favorable financial position than expected. The Town’s cash reserves exceed the recommended policy guidelines. With a more favorable financial position, the Select Board issued separate FY’26 budget guidelines for all Town Departments and the School Department (3.25%). A cash capital amount on the low end (6.2%) of the debt policy that reflects 6.20% to 6.80% of recurring operating revenue. A budget is an estimate of funds needed to cover planned expenses in a fiscal year. Staffing and special education are the two segments of the budget that can have significant variability between initial budget proposal and close out of the fiscal year. The district spends significant time and effort in recruiting candidates for each position. The actual salary for the hired individual may vary from the budgeted amount. Although there is turnover throughout the year in our instructional support professional (ISP) positions, most teacher positions are filled and salaries known by mid-August. Therefore, a re-set to the budget in the fall is appropriate. In fiscal year 2025, this re-set was presented to the School Committee on October 4, 2024. These budget changes include personnel changes (budget versus actual); revenue assumptions based on actual
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