The School Board proposes an updated budget for the Essex Westford School District annually to be reviewed by staff, parents, and community members. It is subsequently voted on each April. This year, 5-6 million dollars must be cut in order for a level budget, meaning that the district would spend no more than the previous year.
To understand what 5-6 million dollars looks like, the Board explained in a Jan. 8 email that if the district cut all transportation services and athletics, it would still need to cut an additional two to three million dollars to achieve a level budget.
In an email sent to the EWSD community on Jan. 22, Superintendent Beth Cobb, and Board Chair Robert Carpenter wrote, “Staff, this is the time to share your feedback and questions from your perspective at the ground level.”
There are a variety of factors that led to this unusual budget year, some of which are impacting the entire state. Increased healthcare costs and property values, declining state-wide student enrollment, and inflation are all pieces of a complex budget process.
“The Board’s decision reflects a careful consideration of facility needs, programmatic priorities, and the overall quality of education,” the Board said in a Jan. 8 email.
“After extensive research and discussion, it became clear that our taxpayers simply cannot endure another double-digit tax rate increase,” the Board wrote.
