Committee reviews amended public school budget

Published 4:49 pm Tuesday, June 23, 2026

QUINCY — Quincy Public Schools will end the year in the black in its four main operating funds combined.

An operating funds summary — included in the amended 2025-26 district budget presented at Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting — shows revenue outpaced expenses by $950,865 in the education, operations and maintenance, transportation and working cash funds.

Committee members reviewed a tentative amended budget in May, and “the only significant change from last time is the increase in O&M of about $75,000 due to the last couple utility bills,” QPS Chief of Business Operations Ryan Whicker said. .

“There were a lot of changes between last time and this time, all net neutral. That was the one significant increase that we didn’t foresee,” he said. “There’s probably no relief in utilities coming in. I don’t foresee next year being a small number.”

The amended budget heads to the School Board Wednesday night for final approval.

Whicker said work already has begun on the 2026-27 budget, but much of the district’s revenue, including grants, still needs to be finalized.

“The earlier you produce (a budget), the more off it is,” Whicker said. “Obviously you want to try to spend what you bring in, but the only thing I know for sure is what payroll is and benefit costs.”

Also Tuesday, committee members reviewed the monthly financial update and the cash flow summary report at its final meeting of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

With 92% of the year complete, district expenses total 90.55% of budget.

Key differences this year to last include the costs involved with refunding bonds and health life safety projects “from a total standpoint,” Whicker said.

“We’re still looking good from a cash flow perspective (with) no concerns not finishing the year with cash,” he said. “We’ll start the year getting all of our property taxes and plenty of money to start the year, not having to borrow as we have in the past.”