Southampton Loses $200K Monthly as State Withholds Aid Over Late Reports

School Committee · Meeting of January 14, 2026

Southampton schools are losing more than $200,000 per month in state aid after failing to file required end-of-year financial reports, Business Administrator Dawn told the School Committee at its January 14 meeting. Dawn described a sweeping reconciliation effort with town accountant Bradley, covering 10 to 15 grant accounts, including a $56,000 federal Rural Education Achievement Program grant drawn down in FY23 whose transfer cannot currently be located on the town's books. Superintendent Vito said the district has met monthly with state Associate Commissioner Jay Sullivan, who is expected to retire in February, and that a follow-up meeting is set for February 4; Vito expressed optimism aid would be restored in March once reports are filed.

On the FY27 budget, Dawn told the committee that preliminary regional budgets are due by February 21 under state law, and that conversations with Town Administrator Scott have made clear even a level-service budget will require a Proposition 2½ override. The committee also voted unanimously to adopt a revised district wellness policy stripped of regional-school references.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of January 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.