Record — Page 0371
I am contacting you both to see if I could obtain a copy of the FY25 WHRSD budget ahead of the
budget hearing next Wednesday. I see on the posted agenda for Wednesday February 7 that you
are planning to open and close the budget hearing at that meeting.
According to MGL Ch71 sec 38, a copy of the budget shall be made available to the public not
less than 48-hours prior to the budget hearing. Based on the one-page budget document
presented at the January 10, 2024 School Committee meeting, the FY25 General Fund Budget
may range between a 2% to 5% increase over FY24.
■I believe it is unreasonable to expect members of the public to digest and comment on a $60
million-plus budget if the information is not made available prior to the scheduled budget hearing.
Please let me know where and when I can access the budget documents.
Thank you.
Kathleen A Ottina
Whitman Finance Committee vice chair and liaison to the WHRSD
Section 38N: Proposed annual budgets; public hearings required; quorum
Section 38N. The school committee of each city, town or regional school district shall hold a public hearing on its
proposed annual budget not less than seven days after publication of a notice thereof in a newspaper having
general circulation in such city, town or district. Prior to such public hearing said committee shall make available
to the public at least one copy of said proposed budget for a time period of not less than forty-eight hours either
at the office of the superintendent of schools or at a place so designated by said committee. At the time and
place so advertised or at any time or place to which such hearing may from time to time be adjourned all
interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be heard for or against the whole or any part of the proposed
budget. Such hearing shall be conducted by a quorum of the school committee. For the purposes of this section
a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of said school committee.
When writing or responding, please remember that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email is a public record.
This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this communication in error, please do not print,
copy, retransmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Also, please indicate to the sender that you have received this email in error, and delete the copy you received.
Whitman Hanson Regional School District (WHRSD) has a commitment to maintaining a workplace and educational environment
where discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, languages, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, pregnancy and pregnancy-related medical conditions are not tolerated. WHRSD does not allow discrimination or
harassment against students based on homelessness or limited English-speaking ability. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts has determined that email is a public record. This communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of
the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged, or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify