BVT District School Committee approves $26 million budget

Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District’s FY22 budget was unanimously approved by its District School Committee on March 4. The fiscal request is a financial blueprint designed upon projected state revenue in the Governor’s House 1 budget. As the state awaits additional federal stimulus aid, the District is only expected to receive a modest subsidy from state-based sources.

As each town navigates its FY22 financial capability, the District advanced a total budget increase request of 3.1 percent to address operational needs with a bottom line of $26,396,703. Endorsement by its member municipalities of the BVT budget will enable the District to cover all operational expenses, including multiple costs commonly found in town warrants for local town departments.

BVT complements local assessments with multiple cost containment strategies. Helping to improve cost reductions by securing over $2 million in new grants and competitive reimbursements and applying $225,000 of its state Department of Revenue certified E&D funds to reduce a portion of each town’s appropriation request.

“To self-fund roof repairs while securing multiple competitive grants to renovate learning environments which avoid dependence upon local town debt and capital appropriations is remarkable,” said Christopher Morin, Milford Finance Committee Chairperson.

“Eleven of our member towns agreed to share a portion of the 2020 federal CARES Act funding with our school system, which was greatly appreciated,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick. “Due to their generosity, we were able to offer in-person and distance learning throughout the pandemic and subsequently reduce our budget request.”

“We look to the next fiscal year with optimism, having successfully navigated significant challenges of the past year,” said Fitzpatrick. “Preparing our students with an exceptional career-technical education, they graduate ready to join the Blackstone Valley workforce either directly or with the added benefit of higher education credentialing.”

BVT’s proposed budget will head to 13 town meetings this spring. To learn more, visit www.valleytech.k12.ma.us/annualbudget.