Middlesex schools seek $1.16 million hike in local funds

No members of public attend hearing on proposed budget

The Middlesex County School Board (MCSB) had no one from the public to attend the fiscal year 2023-2024 (FY 23-24) budget public hearing at St. Clare Walker Middle School on Monday and only two school board members, Claudia Soucek and Garland Harrow, attended.

The proposed FY 23-24 school operation budget calls for a 10.50% increase in local funding of schools, a $1,168,751 increase over last year. The FY 22-23 budget used $11,100,000 in local funds to run the schools. The anticipated amount coming from the county for school operations out of the FY 23-24 proposed budget is $12,272,334. The upcoming fiscal year runs from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

Expenses

Compensation is always the highest expense in the school operational budget. The proposed Middlesex County Public School System’s (MCPS) FY 23-24 budget reflects a 5.7% plus step increase for all school employees. A step equates to a 1.3% increase, which equates to a 7% total salary increase. This is the amount recommended by the state’s legislature…