FRAMINGHAM - The Framingham City Council’s Finance Subcommittee and School Committee had a joint session at the Memorial Building on Tuesday. March 12, regarding the development of the school district's budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

This meeting came as school officials are preparing their proposals for FY25. Their budget outlook will formally be submitted on April 3.

Executive Director of Finance and Operations for Framingham Public Schools Lincoln Lynch presented updated figures to the subcommittee on Tuesday.

According to the data, the city is looking at a 6.87% increase to the total school budget for FY25, up to a proposed figured of $176.1 million. That represents about $11.3 million more than the budget for FY24, though School Committee member for District 4 Adam Freudberg noted that the group has already reduced their initial budget plans by $3.4 million. He added that more cuts to the budget pitch are expected.

The budget proposed on Tuesday featured six budget drivers, with costs related to personnel and special education operations covering most of the price tag at roughly $134.5 million and about $31.5 million, respectively.

School Superintendent Dr. Robert Tremblay said part of the increase to the budget over time relates to factors such as personnel and special educations costs being out of the school district’s control. He mentioned to councilors that making reductions at the school district’s Central Office in order to make the annual budget work could be a possibility.

“We’re not done cutting this budget…We also don’t want to be responsible for 9-1-1 not being able to have the proper resources for police, fire, and dispatch,” Tremblay explained.

“That’s not a place where we want to be, but at the same time we’re going to advocate for our staff and for student-facing support.”

School community members in attendance for the meeting urged official to maintain funding for student-facing components in the budget.

The ongoing school bus shortage in Framingham and the plan to solve it could also play a major part in the budgeting process if the School Committee elects to endorse an in-house busing model. The group will be voting on the matter during their meeting on Wednesday, March 20. Chair of the Finance Subcommittee George King said he would be curious to see the specific budgeting numbers within the plan that is ultimately approved by the School Committee.