School Committee members Jody Hensley and Steve Doret.
Photo credit: File Photo

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – The Westborough School Committee finalized its last set of raised fees at its meeting on Wednesday night.

The preschool tuition raise and the SPIRIT program fees raise were adjusted after previous talks during the discussion to raise revenue through additional fees. After deciding on a fiscal year 2013 budget with a 3.25 percent increase from last year, the School Committee hoped to find the additional $210,000 in self-generating revenue. The School Committee is hoping to gain over $160,000 in revenue by increasing fees, including preschool and kindergarten tuition and student activities fees.

The increase in the fiscal year 2013 budget is partially due to the loss in state and federal aid. Instead of bringing all of that increase to the town, the committee decided to try and find the money elsewhere, School Committee Chair Karen Henderson said.

Preschool tuition, which includes a program for three half-days or four half-days, were changed so the daily rates were the same. Originally, the three half-day program cost $2,500 annually and the four half-day program cost $3,500. When Finance Director Irene Oliver calculated the daily rate, she said they didn’t add up.

“The thought was to equalize the daily rate amounts and by doing so, that would increase the three half-day program’s annual fee by $125. That brings the daily rate up to $25 to match the four half day program,” Oliver said.

The district will also create a program that will allow preschool students to stay through lunchtime for an extra $6 a day.

The School Committee also voted to increase SPIRIT Program fees by 3.5 percent. The committee was considering eliminating the 10 percent sibling discount but they decided against it.

“I’m recommending not eliminating the 10 percent sibling discount because it could have a negative impact,” Director of Community Education Maryellen Feeney said. “I think you would have parents who have two or three children who decide to just get a babysitter instead.”

What do you think: Is raising fees for revenue a good idea?