Wellesley Public Schools: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
FY’25 Municipal Contribution: FY’26 Estimated Municipal Contribution:
$75,766,069 $78,835,777
This amount assumes Chapter 70 is level funded with an additional $25/per student in additional aid. Since Chapter 70 revenue is paid to the Town of Wellesley and does not go directly to the schools, any change from the revenue assumptions made by the Town would impact free cash balances not the school department directly. Proposed Tuition/Fee Changes: In fiscal year 2026, the district was unable to make further reductions to the transportation fee. Our goal remains the elimination of the transportation fee over the next few years. The FY’26 Budget includes a proposed tuition rate increase to the Child Lab program of $150 per child raising tuition from $6,600 per year to $6,750 per year. The tuition rate increase will cover contractual salary increases and related program expenses. This increase will raise the daily rate (at an expected 161-day year) to $41.93 per child, far less than other childcare programs. What is a Budgeted Offset? In Wellesley, the district collects revenue from multiple sources: ticket sales, athletic fees, preschool tuition, etc. These revenues are deposited into the appropriate revolving fund. Expenses can either be charged directly to the revolving fund or through an accounting adjustment between the general fund and revolving fund. A budgeted offset is when revenues are collected and deposited to the revolving fund, but the expenses are carried in the general fund and a corresponding negative account (offset account) is present. The negative budget account represents the amount of the accounting adjustment between the general fund and revolving fund. Without the use of budget offsets, program expenses would be included in the budget of two separate funds making it difficult to see the full expense of a program. In the example of pre-school, the use of program fees offsets the cost of staff in the amount of $550,000 (offset amount). The following revolving funds do not include budgeted offsets, and all expenses are directly charged to the revolving fund: Child Lab Program Textbook Revolving (lost book) Guidance (testing related to College Board fees) Elementary Before School Program All other revolving accounts are a mix of budgeted offset and direct charge to the revolving fund. It is important to note that all budgeted offset amounts are included in the revolving fund revenue estimates for FY’25 and FY’26. Budget Projection Although the projection may change based on the district priorities and student needs, all known and anticipated changes are included in the projection. The table reflects actual spending for the past three fiscal years; budget estimates for the current year (FY’25 Adjusted Budget); projections for the FY’26 Budget; and three future fiscal years. The projection includes both revenue and
expense assumptions that are summarized below.
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