Marlborough Schools Budget Delayed Again, Due Soon: Superintendent

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The release of the new Marlborough Public Schools budget has been delayed again, likely pushing the timeline of the city's annual budget process closer to the June 30 deadline.

The Marlborough School Committee voted on Feb. 13 to extend the budget delivery until March 12 — but there was no mention of the budget at the March 12 meeting. Asked about the delay, Superintendent Mary Murphy said Thursday the budget would come out "in the next 7 to 10 days."

The release of the schools budget is the first step in the city's annual budget process. The school department budget is the single largest piece of funding in the department, and the document usually gets to the school committee by mid-February.

Murphy did not say why the budget is late this year, but the school committee is in ongoing negotiations with the Marlborough Education Association teachers' union, and has negotiation sessions scheduled through April 10.

Once the schools budget goes to the school committee, the members will hold a budget workshop, followed by a final vote on the document with any changes and a public hearing The budget then goes to the Marlborough City Council as part of the larger budget process. The 2024 fiscal year ends on June 30, and so the council has to approve the budget in time for the start of the 2025 fiscal year on July 1.

At the Feb. 13 meeting, MPS finance director Thomas LaFleur proposed a timeline that would've had the budget in the city council's hands by May 6. It's unclear if the district will still meet that deadline.

Education groups in Massachusetts are warning of potential budget problems in districts across the state this budget season due to a state budget that won't provide enough matching funds to keep up with inflation. The portion of the state's Chapter 70 funding formula that accounts for inflation was maxed out over the past two fiscal years, but is some four percentage points lower this year at 1.35 percent.

Some districts are already projecting shortfalls. Worcester Public Schools could face a more than $22 million budget gap in fiscal 2025 due to increases in salaries, health insurance and other areas.

It's possible the state could still save the day. State lawmakers are in the process of digesting and potentially amending Healey's proposed budget. The new version of the state budget could come in April