Brookline panel defers vote on tuition fee hike

Finance Committee · Meeting of January 14, 2026

Brookline's Finance and Capital Subcommittee reports $1.4 million recovered of a $1.9 million budget gap, but tables a steep tuition-fee hike. Finance presenter Susan Ahn said circuit breaker reimbursements, including $607,145 received unexpectedly in July, erased most of the district's structural deficit, while salary accounts are running $787,000 under budget. The subcommittee voted to recommend new tuition-in rates for outside students at three special education programs and approved a $25,000 Metco transportation grant and $9,100 in gifts.

Facilities director Charlie Simmons sought $3,943,395 for building upkeep, $310,000 above the standard increase, plus two new HVAC technicians projected to save $75,000 to $85,000 a year. Members postponed a vote on raising the non-resident "materials fee" from $3,535 to $3,909 per student, a 10.6 percent jump, with one member warning it "could startle a lot of people."

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