Whitman-Hanson Faces 5.36% Budget Increase Amid Rising Costs
Towns Grapple with Potential Overrides as School Budget Strains Resources
HANSON - February 12 - The Whitman Hanson Regional School District is proposing a $66.3 million budget for fiscal year 2026, representing a 5.36% increase from the previous year. The budget was presented at a school committee meeting on Feb. 12.
Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak outlined the key drivers of the increase, including rising health insurance costs, special education expenses, and contractual salary obligations.
"This budget does, however, fund certain costs and line items that were cut in fiscal 25 to maintain our curriculum standards and capacity for one-to-one devices," Szymaniak said.
The proposed budget maintains current staffing levels while meeting contractual obligations and maintaining services for increasing multilingual language enrollment and special education needs.
Stephen Marshall, Director of Business and Finance, explained that the total Chapter 70 state aid for FY26 is expected to be $25,929,471, an increase of only $258,675 from the previous year due to the district receiving the minimum $75 per pupil aid. That leaves the bulk of the budget increase on the town assessments.
The budget increase is putting significant strain on the towns of Whitman and Hanson. Justin Evans, a Whitman Selectman, reported that the town is facing a potential $1.7 million deficit, even before accounting for the school budget increase.
"Unless something changes drastically, we're looking at an override... deficit of $1.7 million. I think this puts us up another $900,000," Evans said. Whitman’s assessment for the school budget is projected to increase by $1.8 Million, or 9.65%.
Steve Amico from the Hanson Finance Committee stated that Hanson is facing a similar challenge, with a projected deficit of about $2.5 million. Hanson’s assessment for the budget is projected to increase by over $1.4 Million, or 9.87%
"We're going to be starting discussions on overrides just like every other town," Amico said. "It's going to be a tough season if we don't get overrides. We don't know where we're going to go for you guys and for us."
Both towns are considering override options to address the shortfall, with Hanson potentially looking at an override of around $2.5 million to $2.6 million.
The school district's special education costs continue to be a significant factor in the budget. The district currently has 19 students placed in local collaboratives at an average cost of $82,310 per student, and 18 students in private out-of-district placements at an average cost of $160,000 per student.
Szymaniak emphasized the district's efforts to provide services in-house when possible. "We want to keep our kids home. We don't want to send them somewhere," he said. "Because of, one, of cost, but two, we want to be able to keep them with like peers here in-district."
The superintendent also highlighted the potential impact of federal grants on the district's budget. The district currently receives about $1.8 million in federal grants, including over $1 million for special education in IDEA grants.
"There has been some talk that they were going to eliminate the funding source [IDEA and Title I grants] from the fed," Szymaniak said. "It concerns me right now. It's in the budget. It's $1.4 million in our budget that if it goes away, I don't know where we're coming up with those funds for our students."
The school committee will continue to review and discuss the budget in the coming weeks. The district must submit an assessment to the towns by March 20, 45 days prior to the town meetings scheduled for May 5.
Szymaniak expressed willingness to attend meetings with town finance committees and select boards to answer specific questions as the budget process continues.
"This is the first day, this is budget season in both our communities," Szymaniak said. "We'll have that assessment after multiple conversations to the town by March 20th and then we go from there."
Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.
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GQ