Medway board OKs altered school budget New plan seeks less funding from taxes

MEDWAY – For the second time, members of the Medway School Board approved a proposed school budget of $2.5 million.

The board adopted a revised school budget proposal during a special meeting on Wednesday.

The major difference between the revised budget and the one the board adopted on May 21 is it asks taxpayers to raise less money.

The total budget did not change. The proposed school budget of $2,502,779 represents an increase of $66,826, or 2.74 percent compared with last year.

In the revised proposal, the amount of $702,8873 is proposed to be raised from local taxes. It represents an increase of $15,655, or 2.28 percent compared with last year.

The May 21 budget proposal asked taxpayers to raise $746,235, which would have been an increase of $59,017, or an 8.59 percent increase.

Superintendent Robert Bouchard Jr. said the emergency meeting was called as the result of Medway receiving more state subsidy.

He said Medway received about $40,000 more in subsidy as the result of lawmakers approving a part one state budget. “That was good news,” he said.

Bouchard described the proposal as a status quo budget. He said the budget included no new positions and no new programs.

“It maintains existing programs,” he said.

The superintendent said the proposal includes funding to cover the costs of higher health care, fuel and electricity costs.

Bouchard said the budget includes funds to buy a new school bus. He said the bus would be paid off over a three-year period through a lease purchase agreement at a cost of $18,600 a year. He said paying for the bus in a three-year period would help keep the local appropriation down.

He said the proposal includes funds for pay increases averaging between 2 percent and 3 percent.

The budget also includes funding for a payment for an air quality improvement project at the Middle School. He said the project is expected to begin as soon as school is out in June.

In other business, the board approved an amendment to the current teachers’ contract. Essentially, the amendment allows teachers the option of selecting either the current standard health care plan or switching to a managed care choice plan.

Also, board members voted to increase their annual stipends. All board members are paid $600 a year. Now, the chairman will be paid $1,000 a year and the remaining board members will be paid $750 a year.