In addition to approving the Andover Public Schools’ $107.5 million operating budget, Annual Town Meeting will be asked to approve one-time funding of $450,000 to help close a deficit stemming from significant increases in tuition for out-of-district placements.
If the additional funding is not approved, APS would likely have to lay off the equivalent of five full-time workers, Assistant Superintendent Keith Taverna told the select board at its March 31 meeting. The select board unanimously recommended town meeting approve Article 12 after discussing the article with Taverna.
“These are students that we’re obligated, by law, to provide services for and that because of their particular needs, were unable to do so within the district,” Chair Laura Gregory said. “So we’re obligated, again, by law, to provide these services.
Taverna said the district has already taken several steps to try to close the deficit. The district was able to save $400,000 by consolidating a special education transportation contract. APS will also incorporate money reimbursed from the state, known as the circuit breaker, when the funds are released.
“The tuitions are going up…quicker than the reimbursements are,” Taverna said. “So we’re trying to bridge that gap as we wait for the reimbursements to catch up.”
Select board member Kevin Coffey raised concerns about using a one-time funding mechanism for recurring expenses.
“The part I don’t get really is if it’s one time, but say it doesn’t pass, then we have a deficit in the operating budget,” Coffey said. “So that sounds like one time money is paying for recurring expenses. That’s the definitional part I can’t understand.”
This month, Andover News is previewing key warrant articles in the 2025 Annual Town Meeting, which begins April 29 and continues nightly until all of the articles have been deliberated.
Key Dates For Town Meeting
April 15: Deadline to publish and post warrant.
April 19: Deadline to register to vote for town meeting.
April 19: Finance Committee Report due.
April 29, 30, and May 1, 7 pm: 2025 Annual Town Meeting
Taverna said APS is anticipating reimbursements will catch up with tuition, ensuring it will be a one-time expense.
“The team here was adamant that it was one time,” Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said. “We’re saying it’s one time, put it in the article because we believe it’s one time. And from my perspective, that made it a little bit easier to wrap my head around.