Richmond Finance Committee Flags 8.6 Percent School Budget Increase Ahead of Bond Vote

RICHMOND -- February 24, 2021, Richmond Finance Committee signals concern over an 8.6 percent school operating budget increase heading into a town meeting that will also ask voters to approve a new municipal building bond. The committee, meeting via Zoom on February 24, worked through a preliminary fiscal year 2022 draft budget prepared by Town Administrator Danielle and concluded that the Richmond School Department's core operating costs are rising by $311,754, driven largely by special education transportation and staffing, a Berkshire Hills shared-services superintendent contract increase of roughly $12,000, and higher Monument Mountain Regional tuition. One member noted that Lee's school budget is up about 3 percent and Great Barrington's about 5.6 percent, warning that "an 8% increase is really tough to swallow" in the same year residents will be asked to support a building bond. The committee removed a $308,000 debt-service placeholder from the draft and directed $150,000 to the Stabilization Fund instead, pending final bonding decisions. The school will present its final budget to the committee on March 10 at 4:30 p.m.