School Budget Shaping Up

Mansfield School Committee Chairman Michael Trowbridge said that the fiscal situation in Mansfield may be improving.

“Not to be real optimistic, but we’re $1.1 million above what we were expecting,” he said. “Realize it’s still early in the process and there are a lot of things we need to shake out.”

Mansfield Schools Superintendent Brenda Hodges said that to maintain level services, the district still needs $500,000 for what the current projections are. She said that everyone in the joint budget subcommittee strongly believe that chapter 70 state funding will be level funded at 2.5 percent for 2013, since Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget did not cut into state funding for schools.

“It’s a moving target really until you get to May,” she said.

Hodges added that both the town and the schools are looking for additional sources of revenue. She said, for instance, that the health care costs for the schools has most likely been estimated on the high side, and through negotiations and actual costs may be lowered.

“Those numbers could be adjusted as time moves forward,” said Trowbridge.

Hodges said that it’s still up in the air in terms of definite numbers until the state confirms their funding.

“We’re at the mercy of the state and as the state gives us better numbers,” she said.