Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School officials told the Northborough Appropriations Committee on March 4 that their FY26 operating budget is increasing by 11.1%, driven primarily by an influx of in‑district students and higher transportation costs.

The presentation, given by Ernest Toole, superintendent/director at Assabet Valley, laid out enrollment, staffing and budget drivers and noted the district expects 75 total students for FY26 (74 secondary, one post‑secondary) as of Oct. 1, 2024 — an increase of eight students from the same date a year earlier. Toole said the district’s total FY26 budget is $30,614,095 and that projected state funding increases tied to those students amount to $2,664,107.

The increase in in‑district students reduced the district’s reliance on out‑of‑district tuition to offset member assessments; Toole said no out‑of‑district tuition revenues were included in the FY26 budget. “In this budget…there is basically a $1,500,000 increase, and that’s because of the out of district tuition not being added to this budget,” Toole said.

The budget adds two instructional positions: a physical‑education teacher and an English‑language development (ELD) teacher, returning staffing to pre‑COVID levels in those areas. Toole also flagged a 37% increase in the vocational district’s transportation contract, which added four bus routes and includes upgrades such as on‑bus Wi‑Fi cameras and a GPS tracking system for families.

Health‑insurance costs remain uncertain. Toole told the committee the district is budgeting on a 10–14% increase range but acknowledged self‑insured districts have seen larger increases; OPEB (other post‑employment benefits) contributions of roughly $100,000 are included. “We are lucky that we have some favorable claims data, so I don't expect it to be that high,” Toole said of worst‑case forecasts.

Toole explained that because Assabet is a regional vocational district it does not participate in the special‑education circuit‑breaker in the same way as some others; the district relies on IDEA and federal Title grants as partial offsets. He also walked the committee through the statutory assessment method used to apportion costs among member towns and showed Northborough’s FY26 assessment components, including debt, capital stabilization contributions and transportation shares.

Committee members asked about the capital stabilization fund, how assessments are negotiated and how the statutory formula works; Jean Savoy, interim director of business operations, and Virginia Sims George, Assabet chair and Northborough representative, answered operational and assessment questions during the discussion. Jeff Knight asked specifically about how the statutory (aggregate wealth) assessment method differs from a potential alternative that would layer a fixed percentage for capital on top of operating assessments.

The presentation included a capital and debt update showing Assabet is in the 10th year of a renovation bond schedule; annual interest on that debt falls about $55,000 per year under the current schedule. Toole said the district has set aside a capital stabilization fund but has not yet expended it; any future use would go through a capital advisory process and school‑committee approval.

Assabet officials asked the Appropriations Committee members to note that increased in‑district enrollment is expected to continue another year before stabilizing, which will affect member assessments in FY27 and beyond.