Watch: Residents Sound Off On Proposed Braintree Schools Budget

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree School Committee recently hosted a public hearing as they prepare to vote on a budget for the 2023-2024 school year.

As it stands, the committee is prepared to ask Mayor Charles Kokoros for an additional $6.25 million. The proposed budget includes money that the district would use for negotiating with employee unions and over $2 million to make up for federal funds that were used this year, but won't be available moving forward.

The district is also accounting for estimated cost-of-living adjustments in the 2024 number.

Superintendent James Lee presented a budget proposal to the committee at a March 20 meeting, detailing that the 2024 budget, as it currently stands, would sit at $74,732,869. The 2023 adjusted budget stands at $68,494,774.

They are set to decide whether or not to send that $74 million budget recommendation to Kokoros at the committee's April 24 meeting.

At the April 11 public meeting, residents voiced their opinions about the budgets and the current state of the school district.

Some said they hope the committee will work to replace some aspects that have been cut, while others said they believed the schools were "underfunded."

Watch the full meeting in the video below: