School Committee taps $930,184 in reserves to ease FY27 budget

School Committee · Meeting of March 4, 2026

LAKEVILLE — Freetown-Lakeville School Committee taps $930,184 in reserves to soften a $53.3 million FY27 budget. Director of Finance Jack Higgins said the budget carries a 6.88 percent increase, pushing Freetown's assessment up 12.22 percent to $15,044,195 and Lakeville's up 13.23 percent to $20,134,181, driven by weak Chapter 70 state aid growth. Nearly 20 teachers and parents urged a "level service" budget, warning of up to 50 potential staff cuts.

Member Tim Emery called the district's per-pupil spending ranking "sobering." Lakeville Select Board member Christopher Plonker said his town separately faces "about a $645,000 deficit" without an override, with proposals of $2.5 million to $4 million that could raise average tax bills $400 to $800. The committee also accepted a $15,000 career-pathway grant and reported a clean district audit with no findings.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of March 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.