Berlin-Boylston School Committee Votes for Public Records Transparency, Braces for 11 Percent Budget Increase

BERLIN — December 9, 2025 — Berlin-Boylston Regional School Committee approved a public records transparency measure and received an 11.45 percent preliminary budget increase projection at its December 9 meeting. Business Administrator Aaron Osborne warned the committee that the figure is designed as a worst-case starting point, driven by an estimated 18 percent jump in employee health care, an 8 percent annual transportation contract increase, and rising out-of-district special education costs — including one private placement facing a proposed 20 percent tuition hike from the state. Boylston Finance Committee Chair Howard Droer told the committee his town is at its Proposition 2.5 levy limit for the third straight year, with $1.1 million in certified free cash and a roughly $1.5 million funding gap remaining on a $4 million elementary school roof project. The committee voted unanimously to post all public records requests, responsive documents, and associated costs to the district website retroactive to July 1, 2025, and later entered executive session to negotiate contracts for custodial staff and incoming Superintendent Dr. Brent Conway.