WHRSD Deficit Narrows to $201k, But Officials Warn of ‘Cuts’ for FY27
Budget Subcommittee hears plans to close FY26 gap following layoffs
HANSON - December 10, 2025 - Through a complex maneuvering of grants, one-time revenues, and open staffing positions, the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District has whittled a projected multimillion-dollar deficit down to a remaining gap of just $201,000 for the current fiscal year. However, officials warned on December 10 that this financial tightrope walk is far from over, predicting that rising state costs and a spike in student enrollment will likely force further cuts in the upcoming FY27 budget.
The Full Story
Business Office Consultant Brian Hyde presented the subcommittee with a “payroll extrapolation” and expense report that painted a picture of a district scraping by. The district began with a massive shortfall, but Hyde detailed how they have managed to close the gap.
As of late November, the district still faced a projected payroll deficit of roughly $466,000 through the end of the fiscal year [23:44]. Hyde notes the $466,000, as of November 26, reflects about $666,000 in salary cuts from layoffs (with two positions restored for legal reasons). When combined with other liabilities—including $225,000 in retirement payouts and deficits in expense lines like the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) bill—the total budget hole sat at approximately $1.4 million [48:40].
To plug this gap, Hyde outlined a plan relying on several key funding sources:
School Choice & Grants: Utilizing $367,000 in School Choice revenue and $720,000 in grant offsets [29:36].
Excess & Deficiency (E&D): Hoping to appropriate $600,000 from the district’s E&D fund, pending certification [48:57]. This is the FY24 E&D, which has yet to be certified by the Department of Revenue.
State Aid & Interest: An additional $258,000 in Chapter 70 aid that wasn’t in the committee’s voted budget and $310,000 in interest revenue, mostly from the Whitman Middle School borrowing [51:22].
After these applications, the remaining deficit is projected at approximately $201,000 [52:55]. Ferro expressed confidence that strict freezes on spending would cover this final amount.
“The goal is... that $201 [thousand] will be nullified by the frozen... expense lines.” — Assistant Superintendent Ferro [01:03:02]
FY27 Outlook: “Kick in the Teeth” While the current year may be salvaged, the outlook for Fiscal Year 2027 (starting July 1, 2026) is bleak. Hyde revealed that the state’s Operational Services Division (OSD) has set a 12.5% increase for special education out-of-district tuition [01:08:50].
“That is a real kick in the teeth,” Hyde said, noting the district has no control over these state-mandated rates.
Compounding the financial strain is a significant rise in enrollment. Assistant Superintendent George Ferro confirmed the district has 250 more students than the previous year—175 from Whitman and 75 from Hanson [01:11:43].
Subcommittee member Rosemary Hill summarized the unsustainable dynamic:
“Basically we’re educating 250 more students with currently less teachers and the same amount of money.” — Rosemary Hill [01:16:28]
When discussing the budget process for next year, Hyde was blunt about the lack of resources for new initiatives, stating that the administration isn’t even asking principals for budget increase requests because the money isn’t there.
“I think we’re going to be looking at cuts next year.” — Brian Hyde [01:17:44]
Why It Matters
For residents, this report confirms that the district’s financial crisis is not a one-time event but a structural problem. While the immediate threat of insolvency for this year has been paused by using one-time funds (like E&D and interest on the Whitman Middle School borrowing) and strict hiring freezes, the drivers of the deficit—enrollment growth and fixed cost increases—are accelerating. The Whitman and Hanson communities should anticipate a lean FY27 budget that may include further reductions in services or staff, despite a growing student body.
Official Minutes & Data
Debate on Public Input
The meeting included some discussion over how much the committee should rely on outside financial experts from the public.
Whitman Select Board member Shawn Kain, speaking during public comment, urged the committee to allow for more two-way dialogue with the public during meetings, rather than just rigid public comment periods.
“There is no law that prevents someone from engaging in a public meeting... I think we should open up transparency.” — Shawn Kain [00:54]
However, Committee Member Rosemary Hill pushed back against relying on unvetted “experts” from the community. She referenced past instances where she claimed outside advice led the district astray.
“People have presented as having knowledge and given us recommendations that... drove us into the situation we’re in now... and asked us to do things that ended up being fraudulent... methods of busing and other things. So how would you vet those people as being what you say is qualified for just walking up?” — Rosemary Hill [04:14]
Subcommittee member TJ Roffey argued that the committee should be open to help, mentioning a “gentleman” who is a CFO at Rockland Trust who had offered assistance [01:43:37]. Hill maintained that school finance has specific legal liabilities that general business professionals might not understand, posing a risk to the district.
Key Motions & Votes
Adjournment:
Outcome: Passed
Vote: Unanimous [01:47:49]
Public Comment
Dawn Byers (Former Committee Member): Urged the committee to review the bus and custodial contracts carefully, suggesting the district investigate whether outsourcing these services is actually saving money compared to keeping them in-house [06:26].
Shawn Kain: Advocated for more collaborative meetings (see above).
What’s Next
Next Meeting: Scheduled for January 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM [01:40:03].
Business Manager Search: The district has posted the job opening for a permanent School Business Manager as of last week [01:26:43].