[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6570601,"mediaKeyId","3204193-1e3168a2ffde3f5eea1566a0249209bf","parentId",3204193,"title","Blue Hills Regional presents $27.7 million FY26 budget to Braintree committee; Braintree assessment rises modestly","audioSeconds",982,"startMs",1715000,"endMs",2697000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204193-1e3168a2ffde3f5eea1566a0249209bf&start=1715&end=2697","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204193-1e3168a2ffde3f5eea1566a0249209bf/thumbnail_1715000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6570601/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Blue-Hills-Regional-presents-277-million-FY26-budget-to-Braintree-committee-Braintree-assessment-rises-modestly","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570601-3fb85b921a5873cd91de29d8fa4a0ccf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159980&Signature=I5LmAijrGRA3N4a8YgDbNPNM0TDtlm7MMY~1TbqmlQ4IW1NL6Ne7gbzM4b6vy-5XjXhFPYA63CEt0LL1-pzjD5MnYih5Z88w6lQw8Ik3krxxXdoJOT-4KDLdirbuytM~1Z~cqEZ3plAlsfnDCXEOWha1YGTNImg8-5EuPQEtE4GJ3VqnCDEquKIQBQ5nVRxy4S32QsOEVbr7gm8iMf-QEs-VhiTjIYxs05LWV5pAVWJpepbBaxGsGf9waRaRIe9~paDZAt8iTKOJR1jhoYqdu0WpiJqgTCxUA3nNj6JSGHD3RfvXAbKXaNodv7v793-pisjSTcopffltZqquRA~FPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Braintree, MA","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","Jill Rosetti, a Blue Hills Regional representative, told the Town of Braintree Committee of Ways and Means on May 6 that the technical high school's preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget totals $27,719,605, an increase of about 4.28 percent over FY25. Rosetti said the district's request includes transfers for capital stabilization, other capital funds, and debt service and relies on a combination of Chapter 78-required local contributions, Excess and Deficiency (E & D) funds and regional transportation reimbursements.

Nut graf: The Blue Hills presentation explained how a state foundation formula (Chapter 70) and capital-debt allocation drive each member town's assessment; Rosetti said the district is contributing more than $686,000 to ease the towns' burden, but Braintree's assessment still rises modestly due to enrollment averages used for capital debt service and changes to required local contribution calculations.

Rosetti outlined core priorities for FY26: strategic financial management and capital planning (including athletic improvements), future-focused facilities and a proposed dental assisting program planned to open in September 2026, academic and technical program excellence across 17 existing programs, and staff development and student support. Rosetti told the committee the FY26 salary and benefits budget supports 148.5 full-time-equivalent positions and that salaries and benefits represent more than 73 percent of total expenditures.

The presentation listed budget drivers the district accounted for: fixed costs, inflation, technology upgrades, and program expansions. Rosetti said preliminary state figures showed a 2.2 percent increase in Chapter 78 and that the district factored inflation at about 1.93 percent. Rosetti said the district expects to rely on a mix of state aid increases and E & D funds to limit assessment growth.

On the municipal-assessment calculation, Rosetti explained the district uses a four-year rolling enrollment average and equalized property valuation to allocate long-term debt. She said the foundation budget (Chapter 70) total was presented as $20,652,008.51 and the required district contribution as $13,010,907 (a decrease of $154,371). Rosetti told the committee that Blue Hills' FY26 operating-budget assessment request totals $18,421,248 (an overall increase of about $481,002) and that Braintree's assessment was listed as approximately $3.0 million — an increase of roughly $60,593 from FY25 as presented to the committee.

Committee members asked detailed questions: Councilor Moran/ Morin (transcript spelling varies) questioned increases in the security/school-protection salary line; Rosetti explained the line funds 1.8 FTEs, including a security-booth operator whose role and negotiated salary changed. Councilor Reynolds pressed about reductions and reallocations in expense accounts; Rosetti said several historical charges were realigned to appropriate line items, and some professional development and instructional expense lines were reduced after review. Councilor Maglio asked whether families pay fees; Rosetti said students pay a $45 annual fee and that regional transportation reimbursement covers about 81 percent of transportation costs, with member towns responsible for the remainder.

Rosetti and directors also described student outcomes and credentials: many students pursue community college, apprenticeships, co-op employment, or industry credentials such as ASE (automotive), ServSafe (culinary), licensure for cosmetology, and other nationally recognized credentials; the district emphasized industry-aligned credentials across programs.

Ending: The committee thanked the Blue Hills presenters for a detailed presentation; no committee vote on the assessment or appropriation was taken at the May 6 hearing and the district's materials and assessments will continue through member towns' budget approval processes and the state budget timetable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Braintree Ways and Means Budget Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Blue Hills Regional officials told the Committee of Ways and Means on May 6 that the preliminary FY26 operating budget is $27,719,605 (a 4.28% increase) and that member assessments — including an increase for Braintree — reflect enrollment, debt service and the state foundation formula.","taxTitle","Town of Braintree , Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",57175,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6570604,"Braintree town clerk proposes $512,538 FY26 budget, cites roughly $92,000 in state election reimbursements",796,282000,1078000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204193-1e3168a2ffde3f5eea1566a0249209bf&start=282&end=1078","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204193-1e3168a2ffde3f5eea1566a0249209bf/thumbnail_282000.jpg","/articles/6570604/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Braintree-town-clerk-proposes-512538-FY26-budget-cites-roughly-92000-in-state-election-reimbursements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570604-ebfa49b9315c86f735614af5cf407e3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159980&Signature=MDANy2mxqVNwwoETxV26x7xjkHGk2kwD2K8WANSn7vzUWtMfRakX-4ZSOz3XWtGo1t17qmPYmNwQwzIrwL~G5p2ouhU1YR7UF2Nfj8eVs3QxOKpzREoWPFbyCu4ORzwjSmZs1qsbFe9q59T1MsjdfxiuIlElxhAPRm63unhaAHNBXAYvN9Wisi8PyvbErQW3vzvfolOs1tFk0QZ3rEJOVdjg2P4V7Yi5LOINwmqtAtfh7B29WBsAinREVm5K6e~p1I4qTU63OOnRyj8voyRxeMLccfWBaemDb5jxY3kpmZqd21-GYHXjdERkrzG4jdwFsfMh-PsuWLDhvzBh3uKSAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Clerk Casey, the Town Clerk for the Town of Braintree, told the Committee of Ways and Means on May 6 that the town clerk's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget is $512,538, a reduction of about $49,000 (8.7%) from the current fiscal year. The presentation ran through staffing, election-related costs, and an itemized list of reimbursements the town received after the 2024 elections.

The reduction from FY25 is primarily attributable to lower projected early-voting costs after the council exercised an opt-out for early mail voting, Clerk Casey said. \"In total, I received 92,000 a little over 92,000 in reimbursements,\" Casey said, referring to state reimbursements that offset election expenses and are returned to the general fund.

Nut graf: The clerk's office asked the committee to note that while the proposed FY26 operating budget is lower than FY25, the office continues to face growing responsibilities tied to state-level legislative changes and election administration; Casey told the committee that those demands may require part-time staffing or capital funding to digitize records.

According to Casey, projected year-end expenditures for FY25 will be near, but likely less than, $561,000; $157,000 of the FY25 appropriation was for elections. Casey listed specific state reimbursements: $36,243 for early-voting-related expenditures and a $54,104 reimbursement for a high-speed tabulator used for early voting (about 93% of the tabulator cost). Casey said the reimbursements are returned to the general fund and reduce the net local election cost. \"That was worth every penny that we pay for it,\" Casey said of the tabulator.

Committee members asked about operational risks and resource needs. Councilor Reynolds praised the clerk's office performance and noted record retention and storage as ongoing concerns; Reynolds asked whether the clerk anticipated needing additional space or digitization funding. Casey said election equipment is currently stored at 90 Pawn Street and that mobile carts purchased with council approval have improved logistics. On paper records, Casey said the vault is packed and reiterated a prior capital request to digitize records, which she said would reduce staff time spent locating historical records; she called the project costly.

Councilor Flaherty asked about training and travel for changing election procedures. Casey confirmed $600 is budgeted for in-state meetings and seminars and said out-of-state travel has no funding. Casey also described recurring failures of an ADA voting device and said the state has promised replacement equipment but has not yet confirmed cost or reimbursement arrangements.

Councilor Morin and other members complimented the clerk's office for running elections efficiently and for appropriately adjusting the FY26 request to reflect fewer elections in the coming year. Casey told the committee she may return next year seeking additional funds if the town must support two election years instead of one.

Ending: The Committee took no final appropriation action during the hearing; the presentation will feed into the broader budget review and the annual town meeting on May 27, when public comment and votes on appropriations will occur. Committee members were directed to send budget questions to towncouncil@braintreema.gov.","Town Clerk Casey told the Committee of Ways and Means on May 6 that the proposed FY26 budget would be $512,538 — about 8.7% below FY25 — and that the office received roughly $92,000 in state reimbursements related to 2024 election costs and equipment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Blue Hills Regional presents $27.7 million FY26 budget to Braintree committee; Braintree assessment rises modestly

Braintree town clerk proposes $512,538 FY26 budget, cites roughly $92,000 in state election reimbursements