QPS committee reviews tentative amended budget

Published 3:32 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2026

QUINCY — Quincy Public Schools’ tentative amended budget accounts for changes in income and expenditures throughout the fiscal year.

The budget, reviewed by the Finance Committee on Tuesday, remains a $122 million balanced spending plan which includes a 3% increase in the employee share of TRS for certified employees and a 3% increase in salary for noncertified employees.

But QPS Chief of Business Operations Ryan Whicker pointed to changes in five funds:

• Education — The district got its second allotment of Title funding, which added $958,000 in revenue and expenses.

• Operations and Maintenance — Professional services expenses increased by $69,000 to cover mold mitigation costs in the Quincy High School auditorium and equipment increased by $55,000 for replacing compressors struck by lightning, which is offset by insurance reimbursement.

• Debt Service — Accounting changes reflect refunding existing bonds, a $23 million expense, and issuing $23.5 million in new bonds and an additional $540,000 cost for bond issuance.

“The whole process ended up saving taxpayers three-quarters of a million just because of lower interest rates,” Whicker said.

• Transportation — A lease payment not factored into the original budget added a $60,000 expense.

• Tort — Professional services increased $100,000 due to legal expenses tied to ongoing litigation and equipment increased $325,000 to cover the cost of the Open Gate security system.

Reviewing the tentative budget “really is kind of the first step in the process,” Whicker said. .”The budget will be fluid for the next month. Departments still have money to spend. They may spend it differently than it is allocated right now.”

Additional adjustments will be made, then the final amended budget will come before the committee in June before going to the School Board for approval.

Committee members also reviewed and approved the low bid of $1,129,000 from Peters Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., for boiler and rooftop unit replacement at the Early Childhood and Family Center.

The work will be done in summer 2027.

“There’s a lead time for the equipment, which is why we’re putting out the bid now so we can get our order placed,” Whicker said.

Also Tuesday, committee members:

• Approved a summer meal kit bid from Optimum Foods at a kit cost of $32.99 and an estimated overall cost of $626,810.

Plans call for the district to partner with No Kid Hungry and Amazon to provide home delivery of kits with seven breakfasts and seven lunches of shelf-stable foods, including microwaveable meals, over the summer.

“This is going to be huge for a lot of kids, especially those on the outskirts of town that either parents didn’t have transportation in or didn’t have the opportunity to get meals previously,” QPS Food Service Director Jean Kinder said. “This is going to help a lot of families.”

• Accepted the escalating bid, covering the market price plus delivery, from Energy Petroleum for the district’s 2026-27 fuel needs. Based on estimated usage, the cost will be $384,652.50.

• Heard the district has no concern for cash with 85% of the fiscal year complete.

“We’re kind of getting to our low point of the year, the next two months, then we’ll have a big tax drop, the high point of the year and spend it down through the year,” Whicker said.