The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School district committee voted this week to certify an $18.7 million budget for the coming year.
A substantial increase in the regional high school budget and town assessments for the upcoming fiscal year has drawn concern from town leaders in Oak Bluffs.
The regional high school committee unanimously approved an $18.6 million operating budget for fiscal year 2016 with relatively little comment or discussion.
During a tour of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School early Tuesday morning, new principal Gilbert Traverso outline several building maintenance concerns. The schools superintendent said a revenue shortfall meant money was not put aside for maintenance.
With virtually no discussion, the regional high school district committee voted Monday to certify an $18.6 million operating budget for the coming year. Salary increases, funding for a school resource officer and a recently completed roof replacement project are all including in the spending package.
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School district committee voted this week to certify a $17.6 million budget for the coming fiscal year, an increase of $732,927 or 4.3 per cent.
“Much of the budget is driven by things we cannot control,” high school principal Stephen Nixon said during a public presentation of the budget last week, noting fixed costs that include salaries, debt service, retirement, shared services and health insurance. Those costs alone total $5.4 million, an increase of 13.3 per cent over last year, Mr. Nixon said.